AUGUST 24 • 2023 | 21

parent-teacher conferences, his teachers 
would all regularly comment on how 
Simon was the only student who every 
day, without fail, would wish them a good 
morning when arriving and a great day 
when leaving. 
“Every teacher said he was a teacher’s 
dream,” said Simon’s aunt, Lori Tunick. “I 
was an educator for over 20 years. When 
I hear teachers say that, they’re saying this 
kid was above and beyond. And that’s how 
Simon lived his life every day.” 
Simon was highly intelligent, and 
school came easy to him. He began on an 
advanced math track in elementary school 
and was always a year ahead in the subject 
from that point on. He enjoyed math, but 
as a whole, he often said he wasn’t being 
challenged enough in school. 
Simon recently received the highest 
score possible on his AP World History 
exam and was even planning to take a 
college class in his upcoming junior year 
at North Farmington High School. 
Beyond school, Simon was inquisitive 
and curious. He sometimes would begin 
conversations with his parents about the 
most random topics that no one would 
expect an everyday teenager to know 
about. When his parents asked why or 
how he knew about the topic, Simon 
would respond that he was interested 
in it and so he read a book or did some 
research. If something sparked Simon’s 
interest, he would find a way to learn 
more about it. 
Simon had a unique quality, at his age, 
to relate and carry on conversations with 
adults just as easily as he could with his 

peers. “He was an old soul,” Michelle said. 
A well-known trait of Simon’s was his 
tech-savviness — one of his many self-
taught talents, which also included playing 
the guitar and cooking. 
At Warner Middle School, Simon would 
sometimes get called out of class by the 
principal, not because he was in trouble, 
but because there was a tech issue. They 
knew he could fix it.
Simon truly enjoyed helping others, 
whether it was family, friends or strangers. 
In Alaska, Simon took the time on the 
bus traveling between trip sites to help 
prep fellow campers for their PSAT and 
SAT. 
“
And he did that in school,” Michelle 
recalled. “We had somebody tell us they 
went to Simon when they were struggling 
because they knew he knew how to do it 
and had the patience to teach them.”
Scott added, “And as smart and talented 
as Simon was, he was very humble about 
it. Not a bragger. He would only talk 
about himself when he was asked.”

ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP
When his little sister Sami had questions 
Michelle and Scott didn’t know the 
answers to, they would send her to Simon, 
who always found a way to help whether 
it was with math homework or to set up a 
Minecraft account. 
Simon and Sami had a five-year age 
difference, so there was the natural 
“annoying little sister” relationship. But 
at the end of the day, Simon would do 
anything for her. “He was her protector,” 
Scott said. 

Simon playing 
guitar at camp 
in 2021

Simon on the 
Alsakan trip

Simon on May 
18, 2023, his 
first day of 
driving

continued on page 22

