Bernd Simon
Bernd "Bernie" Simon
May 20, 1920 - September 3, 2014
Bernie Simon passed away peacefully in his Ventura home on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at the age of 94, surrounded by his wife and friends. Bernie was a Jewish German Holocaust survivor who escaped Dachau. He immigrated to the United States and enlisted in the US Army to fulfill his dream of returning to Europe to save his mother and fight the Nazis as an Army Air Corps bomb crew member. After the war, Bernie hunted down and arrested Nazi war criminals. As a Holocaust survivor Bernie was a noted speaker at synagogues, high schools and community organizations where he shared his wartime experiences. He had received recognition from the California Legislature for his public services in speaking and educating the public on this topic. He and his wife Judy have been long time members of Temple Beth Torah in Ventura. Bernie retired from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department where he was a corrections officer. He is survived by his wife Judy, of 65 years; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Angel of Irvine; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Jesse Phillips of Orinda; grandchildren, Clifford, Gavin, Derek and Eliana. Services were held Friday, September 5, 1:00 PM, in the chapel at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Rd., Ventura, with Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller officiating. Burial followed the service. Arrangements were under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura.
Condolence…
We lost an amazing gentleman, Bernd Simon. He survived the Dachau concentration camp, escaped Nazi Germany with the assistance of his loving mother, came to the U.S., joined the U.S. army, returned to Europe to defeat the Axis, hunted down Nazi war criminals, and eventually met his wife, Judy, who is also a survivor of Auschwitz and incredible person.