In Memory

Simeon M Kriesberg

Simeon M Kriesberg

Reported by Gary Cahn:

Simeon Kriesberg passed away on June 21st after a long illness. There will be a memorial service at Washington Hebrew in Washington DC on June 26 at 10:00 AM. At Whitman, Simeon was on the Bridge Team, Varsity Debate Team, Black and White, Spanish Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, and Mathletes. At WWHS, a school filled with many brilliant students, Simeon was among the most brilliant. He received an A.B. from Harvard, an M.P.A. from Princeton and a J.D. from Yale. However, none of the above is what I will most remember about Simeon. His humor was always extraordinarily clever and frequently on display. He was kind, thoughtful, generous, and modest beyond compare. Five members of our class, Bill Kominers, Dan Goldman, Warren Leonard, Larry Wagman and I played bridge with Simeon every month for 50+ years. Simeon leaves behind his wife, Martha Kahn and his two children, Micah and Skye, as well as many other family members. May his memory be for a blessing.
 



 
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06/25/24 11:25 AM #1    

Lisa Johnston (Howorth (Class President))

Oh no--another loss for our class. Goodbye to Simeon, a very nice and smart guy. To his family: so sorry for this loss. We are thinking of you. Lisa (Johnston) Howorth


06/25/24 12:26 PM #2    

Deborah A. Snow

Simeon was someone to look up to and try to follow in his footsteps.  Blessings to his family and all his friends.

Deb Snow


06/25/24 03:36 PM #3    

Jane Edlavitch (Lewis)

My heart goes out to Simeon's family.  May their fond memories of him help ease their sadness as they adapt to holding him in their hearts and minds instead of their arms.  Blessing of love and light to all who knew Simeon.


06/25/24 04:30 PM #4    

Valerie J. Gilpeer (Grodin)

My mother was a friend of Simeon's mom. The family was extremely well educated and refined and I enjoyed the time I spent at the home when we would visit. Simeon was not a close friend, but I certainly knew him from  childhood and was aware of his intelligence and kindness. Sending my deepest condolences to his immediate and extended family. May his memory be for a blessing.


06/25/24 05:26 PM #5    

Leland Gamson

Yes, smart, witty and helpful describe Simeon. We were on the Pyle literary magazine and the Black&White staff together. I remember how Simeon would wip out a saterical version of the newspaper for the staff on a regular bases. After two years on the Black&White staff, I wanted to write under less pressure, material that would last. Lisa Gessow suggested I switch to the SAGA. I knew I had tell the Black&White's hard driving sponsor, Dr.B., and feared her angry response. Not knowing what to tell Dr.B, I asked Simeon for advice. He said, "Tell her that you want to experience as much as possible during your high school days by being on both the newspaper and the yearbook. If she gets mad, just remember that she is here for us not us for her."  Thanks to you Simeon I was able to get my reason accross to her and deflect an angry reponse.

 There is more wit now in Samayin as Simeon has entered there.


06/26/24 10:05 AM #6    

Katherine Seavey (Bryant)

Simeon's funeral is being LiveStreamed from Washington Hebrew Congregation.  You need a password to log on.  Call WHC and they will email you the link and password.


06/26/24 12:25 PM #7    

Faith Lee (Breen)

Simeon was so smart and we were all so proud to have him as a classmate.  So impressive that he was able to maintain his friendships for so long.  At this time in life, it is such a blessing to have such friendships.

Faith


06/26/24 12:33 PM #8    

Richard Blackman (Blackman)


01/01/25 06:06 AM #9    

Warren J. Leonard

 

I thought about Sim during the past few days and thought I would post the comments that I shared at the memorial service for him at Washington Hebrew Congregation on the day of his funeral last June. Some of the information has already been said by others in their postings, but there are a few other things I mentioned in my comments (below), and I thought this would once again remind people of our extraordinary classmate.

Warren

 

"Good morning. If Sim were speaking, he would undoubtedly welcome you and thank you for your kindness and generosity for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today. But I suspect that all of you think that coming was not a burden but something you wanted to do to say farewell to a most amazing man. Sim constantly gave of himself and pursued Tikkun Olam through service to Washington Hebrew, the AJC, DCJCC, Interfaith Council, and more. I have known Sim since junior high school, and have had the pleasure of being one of six, including Sim and 4 other junior high school friends (Gary Cahn, Dan Goldman, Bill Kominers, and Larry Wagman), to play bridge together approximately monthly since college. Who knows, perhaps we will win a Guinness Book of Records citation for the longest standing such game. The last game was 3 weeks ago. We schmoozed about sports, politics, and more, trying to solve the problems of the world (alas not very well), and of course play bridge. Sim was open, but you needed to ask the right question. For example, 30 years ago, we only learned that he was engaged to wonderful Martha by receiving a wedding invitation because no one ever asked if he was seeing someone! Yes, we were guys and that was Sim.

 

I have learned so much from Sim over the years—from his blend of wit, erudition, wisdom, kindness, and his never saying anything bad about anyone—he was a true believer in avoiding Lashon Hara. And over the past 2 years, I was wowed at how he coped with his own illness, maintaining optimism, humor, and warmth, generously focusing on the needs of others, and continuing to be a loving parent full of compassion and sound advice. Sim and Martha attended my youngest daughter’s wedding in 2022 despite the pandemic, not wanting to miss the event, continued to attend theatre nearly to the end, and just a week ago, Sim presented at his neighborhood association. He lived life to the fullest, embracing what he considered important and serving in major leadership roles. He was extremely accomplished and held degrees from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, but was incredibly modest. He was special. He was a mensch. It was an honor to be his friend for 60 years."

 

 


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