Relatives and friends agree the dictionary definition of "public servant" should include a photograph of Jack Simon.
"He was a treasure, one of the good guys who cares about people and follows through in doing something for them," said Chris Orosz, founder and executive director of Stage Right, a Greensburg-based performing arts school and professional theater company.
"He was a good motivator, he was a good educator, he was one heck of a jokester," said Robert Rhody, a 44-year friend. "When he'd come to fight a fire, he was there to help -- not to draw attention to himself."
John W. "Jack" Simon, 73, of Greensburg, an avid firefighter who also held administrative posts in Westmoreland County and state government, died Friday, June 25, 2010.
Mr. Simon served as executive director of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce and later was Westmoreland County's director of administration for 13 years.
After working for Westmoreland County, Mr. Simon worked for N.U.S. before his appointment by then-Gov. Robert Casey as Pennsylvania state fire commissioner.
"While commissioner, he completely reorganized the educational structure of firefighting in the state and incurred the wrath of thousands of firefighters who liked the old ways of doing things," Rhody said.
Before his retirement, Mr. Simon was business manager for Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg.
Mr. Simon was an active firefighter for 59 years. He was a life member of the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company 1, the Pennsylvania State Firemen's Association, the Westmoreland County Firemen's Association, the North Hempfield Volunteer Fire Department and the Western Pennsylvania State Association. He had been president of the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association and a member of the Westmoreland County Fire Chiefs Association, Westmoreland County Mohawks Association and the Pennsylvania Fire Equipment Distributors.
He also was a member of the West Newton Volunteer Fire Department and Hope Volunteer Fire Department in Northern Cambria. He was instrumental in founding the Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Unit.
"His dad, my grandfather, was a firefighter for 50 years," said son Chris Simon of Greensburg. "They both did everything for the community."
Mr. Simon enjoyed tinkering with his antique fire trucks, which he displayed in various parades. He also enjoyed taking his children and grandchildren for rides through the neighborhoods and in parades on the trucks.
Simon was a board member of Stage Right and performed in numerous productions.
"I considered him my go-to guy," Orosz said. "He was so smart, with so many good ideas. He developed our policies and procedures, he was a problem solver, and he was a master at fundraising."
In addition to his son, survivors include his wife of 50 years, Mary Kay; three daughters, Kelly Simon, Gina Komoroski and Michele Answine, all of Greensburg; a sister, Sally Thuransky of West Newton; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home Inc., Stanton and Green streets, Greensburg. Prayers will be said at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg. Burial will be in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department will conduct a memorial service at 7 p.m. today in the funeral home.
The family asks that memorials be in the form of contributions to Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 300 N. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601.
