22 | AUGUST 24 • 2023 

Simon’s respectful, kind nature was 
expressed in a multitude of ways. Helping 
his grandparents get around, checking on 
a loved one if they weren’t feeling well, 
riding over on his bike if an aunt or uncle 
needed something set up or a garage 
cleaned — Simon was there to help, 
simply because he wanted to. 
“Whatever crappy grunt work I needed 
help with, for Simon it was always, ‘Yes, 
how and when can I help you?’ And he 
was actually disappointed if his schedule 
didn’t allow him to help,” Tunick said.
Family was a priority to Simon. 
Birthdays, holidays or just to hang out — 
if Simon could be there, he was. 
For his bar mitzvah gift, Simon chose 
to go on a family cruise. He took the 
time to research hundreds of cruises and 
what they offer, eventually choosing the 
one that satisfied everyone in his family’s 
interests. His checklist was important, 
but above all, he wanted to make sure 
everyone else had the best time possible.
As Simon got older, family would 
lovingly tease him about some of his 
“geekier” interests they didn’t necessarily 
understand, whether it be Dungeons & 
Dragons or robotics. Simon, confident in 
himself and who he was, would respond, 
“I like it. I’m proud of it. This is me.”

LIVING HIS BEST LIFE
Simon started working at Jewish Senior 
Life about two years ago, which is where 
he met Rebecca Mills, his girlfriend. 
Simon would share his passion for 

cooking with Rebecca, sometimes 
making her dinner. Her favorite was the 
grilled cheese sandwiches he made in 
the shape of butterflies. The two of them 
enjoyed each other’s company, hanging 
out and talking. 
“He was always there if you needed 
him,” Rebecca said. “Always a presence. 
Even if he couldn’t physically be there, 
if you were to call him and say you need 
something, he would sit on the phone 
with you. He cared about everyone with 
his whole heart.” 
In Alaska, Simon was living his best 
life. He appreciated nature and the 
beauty of the outdoors, and he greatly 
enjoyed the hiking and playing Euchre 
with his friends and counselors. He was 
looking forward to fishing on the trip, 
an activity he also enjoyed at home with 
family. 
The Mirkes’ family received a letter 
after Simon passed, with him expressing 
how beautiful Banff was and how he 
wanted to return as a family so they 
could enjoy it together. 
Simon went to Tamarack for eight 
summers. Every year Simon came home, 
Michelle and Scott witnessed how the 
camp helped him grow. 
“It allowed him to let the other side 
of Simon out that he maybe reserved 
during the school year. I think it’s where 
he was his happiest,” Michelle said. “You 
saw the independence, confidence and 
the friends he gained from it. It helped 
build him into who he was.”

A LIFE CUT SHORT
On the afternoon of July 17, while on a 
hike in Alaska with the rest of the campers 
and counselors on the trip, Simon 
collapsed. 
After moving him to a more stable area, 
CPR was instantly started. Many nearby 
agencies responded to the situation, and 
there were several passersby who tried 
to assist in saving Simon’s life, including 
a cardiac nurse who stopped to help 
with advanced tools such as an AED and 
Epinephrine. A Life Flight helicopter with 
paramedics arrived amongst the efforts. 
“One of the conversations we had 
is they were going to load him on 
the helicopter and try more life-
saving measures. They did, from our 
understanding, intubate him. And then 
it was determined that to get him from 
where he was to where the helicopter 
could safely land, they would have to stop 
CPR. And, at that point, to stop CPR, 
there was no starting it again, basically. 
He never got on the Life Flight, and it was 
determined he had passed,” Michelle said.
About an hour and 45 minutes of life-
saving efforts took place before Simon 
died.
“It was nothing short of heroic what 
they tried to do to save him,” Scott said. 
Simon was in good health prior to the 
trip, was working out regularly and passed 
his pre-camp physical with no issues. 
Michelle and Scott made the decision to 
pass on the autopsy. 
“There’s a bunch of theories,” Michelle 

OUR COMMUNITY

Simon and his 
mom, Michelle, 
in 2019

Simon and his 
sister, Sami, 
hanging out at a 
restaurant

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