I don't have pictures with Linda but I do have memories. She was the person I turned to for advice about medicine, law, plants, pets, computer apps, and everything else. 

Linda was religious, but not in the usual sense. She would attend services every week and celebrate the Sabbath. She was not "orthodox" in her practice; she was, however, respectful of those who were.

When Linda decided to get her PhD in psychology, she felt she needed help with her dissertation, someone to learn the complex rules and keep her English from going too far off the rails. That decision wound up helping me find a new way to earn a living. 

When, on Linda's and Verne's example, we decided to move from California to Pennsylvania, she (and Verne) spent months looking at houses for us, even though they lived an hour's drive from where we would be. 

I was not the person she knew the longest. Nor was I the person she was closest to. But she was a better-than-good friend. I'm glad I sometimes made her laugh. I thought she would always be there for my questions and I miss the answers I'll never have.

Summing up the person I knew as Linda Lerner Simon, she was the most caring, loyal, honest, generous, non-judgemental, and intelligent person I have ever known. You know the saying about the "smartest person in the room?" Linda really was.

For Verne, for the critters, for her other friends, and for me, Linda is the missing, critical piece in a billion-word puzzle.

I remember her kindness.  She was the nurse at Jordan High, a receiving school for South Gate Middle.  After I worked the summer at South Gate Middle, she sent me a incredible note about how much she appreciated my nurse's notes on my students moving on to Jordan High.  I thought it was wonderful that she took the time to recognize a fellow colleague.  She was also very giving in training potential guide dogs.  Linda did not think I was a good influence on the dogs, but she did bring them around when it was  time to take their final test.  She figured if the dog behaved around me they would pass.   She was very intelligent with a great deal of compassion.  She is missed.

Linda was there for me when no one else could be. She showed up for me when I was alone and scared. Linda stood strong behind me and fought for me. She told me to sit up straight and keep my chin up. She advocated for me when my voice was silenced. She held my hand and silently witnessed my pain when I was defeated. Linda put her life on hold to help me move forward with mine. She never asked for anything. She simply was there for me because I needed someone. 

And she came back to see to me, to check on me, to make sure I was putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward. And when it looked like I was going to make it, she came back to celebrate with me, to see me off into the sunset. 

Again and again she showed up for me with nothing but love and unwavering support. She was a rock. 

SHE WAS A ROCK. 

I will remember you. My children will remember you. Your love and loyalty will continue to propel us forward in life. 

Go with peace, my friend. 


Linda was there for me when no one else could be. She showed up for me when I was alone and scared. Linda stood strong behind me and fought for me. She told me to sit up straight and keep my chin up. She advocated for me when my voice was silenced. She held my hand and silently witnessed my pain when I was defeated. 
Linda put her life on hold to help me move forward with mine. She never asked for anything. She simply was there for me because I needed someone. 
And she came back to see to me, to check on me, to make sure I was putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward. And when it looked like I was going to make it, she came back to celebrate with me, to see me off into the sunset.
Again and again she showed up for me with nothing but unwavering love and support. She was a rock! SHE WAS A ROCK!
I will remember you, my friend. My children will remember you. Your love and loyalty will continue to propel us forward in life.
Go with peace! 

Linda my friend, I will miss you with all my heart. I miss just hanging out with you and doing nothing and miss going out with you. You were the brave one and would drive anywhere I wanted to go.
I will love you and miss you forever


Linda helped me drive! She also inspired me in my journey as a social worker. Will miss her humor. ❤️❤️❤️

Linda and I met each other as 14 year old junior high students in the Bronx. We quickly became the best of friends and would spend lots of time together outside and at each other’s homes. She was known to her friends and to my family by her nickname  “Tygre” . It was a nickname that she embraced (it spoke volumes about her) and she is still referred  to as Tygre by my family.  I became part of her Jewish family and ate chopped liver and she became part of my East Indian/ Puerto Rican family and ate rice and beans. After school we would dine on  “REAL”  egg creams, as only us  Bronxites could make.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on toasted rye often accompanied our egg creams.  When Linda’s father died, her mother moved the family to California. We missed each other, so I flew out to visit Linda in California when I was around 17 years old. She took me to an open air market where she was asked in Hebrew if this East Indian, Puerto Rican was a Sephardic Jew. We had a great laugh about that.   We kept in touch and when I had my son in 1970, I had to take him to California when he was around 2 years old to meet my California family. We were more than friends, we were family.  We were Bronx girls, something that she was very proud of, and talked about the life lessons she learned growing up in the Bronx which served her well in LA. Tygre and I loved that bit of rebellion that we both had. Linda referred to me as her friend of longest standing.  She definitely married a keeper when she married Verne and was so proud to introduce him to me and me to him. I am so happy that they were able to take their fabulous trip to the Galapagos before she got sick.  Verne, you were the best thing that ever happened to Linda.  My friend Linda was brilliant, feisty, loving, and I will miss her tremendously.  Until we meet again kiddo!




The NeuroGroup weekend get-together in Borrego Springs, CA, 2007ish, I'm guessing.    Skyler loved the pool!

Skyler (?) the ADD service-dog-in-training, sometimes Drake (?), accompanied Linda to the School Neuropsychology Saturday lectures, and was a welcome diversion.   Our study group turned into the Neuropsych Breakfast Club once we graduated.  We would meet at Mimi's in Downey, CA.  

The NeuroGroup formed during our year-long course on Neuropsychology (2003ish) and has met every year since.  A memorable moment:  Linda demonstrating the movements of someone with tardive dyskinesia for our final exam prep.  

When Linda moved to Pennsylvania from California, four of her CA friends wrote a humorous letter ending with this:  

We have spent a lot of time with Linda and can tell you that she is one of the kindest, smartest and most generous people we have ever had the pleasure of knowing and we don’t intend to let her get away so easily.  No, Linda is a life-long friend, who, misguided as she might be to even consider moving away from California, is stuck with us forever.  Yes, we are a forgiving group, knowing full well that if we ever need her, one call, e-mail, text or face-time request, and she will be on the first plane to California no matter what inclement weather, illness, pestilence, or siege you might try to throw in her way.  Linda’s loyalty knows no bounds.  Pennsylvania, please respect this fact. Us Californians know who we can count on.  Treat her well.  You have been warned.  

These four Californians already miss her presence on this earth terribly.....Patricia, Marilyn, Graceann and Jeanette

Linda was an important part of making our neighborhood a friendly place to live. She was a caring neighbor and friend who you knew would do about anything for you.  She was always ready to host the next gathering, check on your pet if you were away, or to lend an understanding ear. We will miss her.

It’s 9:30 in the morning and I had my coffee and something to eat.  I’ve been thinking about you since I got up ever since I looked at your side of the bed and realized this is not a bad dream and that your really not here with me as you should be.
The workshop stands idle awaiting your ideas for a new project.  I find it almost impossible to go there except for the purpose of putting something away or retrieving a document from the safe.  There is food in the refrigerator for me, but I don’t have much of an appetite unless I had a meal to share with you.
I cry everyday because of the many reminders you left in your wake.  I tried cleaning up your desk, but I cannot throw anything away that has your handwriting on it.  Your office is as it was when you were called to G_d and that room has fallen into disuse.  I hide out in my office which is the only place you didn’t leave your mark.  The bedrooms where your friends stayed while they visited you at the hospital to say goodbye remain as they were, with clean sheets but the beds un-made.
Our dog Abby is listless and only hovers around me at night while I try to sleep.  She knows of your absence, but I don’t think she knows you won’t be coming home.  I think she still misses Gia, the Doberman,  too. There are no distractions except for the news and I’m glad you’re not here to see it.  There is nothing on TV that catches my interest and I make work for myself around the house so that I don’t dwell on things that I cannot change. I promised you I would go on without you, but I didn’t understand how difficult it would be. Even so I will keep my pledge in the hope that the hurt will diminish over time.
I will always love you and when my time comes the last words on my lips will be “I love you Linda, you are the best” and then shortly thereafter I will be laid to rest in the plot next to yours. 
G_d bless you Linda thank you for sharing those years with me.

Your husband Verne


OBITUARY

Dr. Linda Lerner Simon

May 15, 1950 – May 24, 2022

Lamb Funeral Home Inc.

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