Passings: Anne Simone was a respected member of the York community

Anne Simone, an administrative assistant in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University and a long-serving and respected member of the community, has died. Mrs. Simone, 60,  died of cancer on Tuesday, June 11. She will be held dear in the hearts of her family, relatives and many friends.

AnnesimoneAnne Simone

Described by her colleagues as “one of a kind”, she treated everyone she met with respect and was deeply committed to York University and the success of its students, staff and faculty. She worked at the University for more than 20 years. Mrs. Simone spent several years at the Schulich School of Business before moving to the Faculty of Arts to work as an administrative assistant to the dean and then in the new Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies as an administrative assistant to the associate dean of faculty affairs.

There are very few students, staff and faculty who have not been touched by her warmth, professionalism and her dedication to her various positions at York University. Her belief and commitment to the University was so strong that a scholarship was established in her honour. It was Mrs. Simone’s choice to direct the support to graduate students, to enable them to better afford the costs of attending and presenting at conferences that can be so critical to their careers. The inaugural Anne Simone Graduate Student Award was presented on April 11 to Pamela Fuentes, a doctoral candidate in history.

Viewing will be held at Fratelli Vescio Funeral Home at 8101 Weston Road in Woodbridge, Ontario on Wednesday, June 12 from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm. A funeral mass for Mrs. Simone will be held on Thursday, June 13 at St. Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church, 8500 Islington Avenue in Woodbridge. The service begins at 10am. The University flags at the Keele and Glendon campuses will be lowered at 10am on Thursday in a tribute to Mrs. Simone.

The family requests that contributions in memory of Anne Simone be made to the Anne Simone Graduate Student Award at York University. Click here to access the secure scholarship donation form. Thank you for your support of this award and for helping to recognize the many contributions Anne has made to the life of the University.