Eugene Simonoff, 95
Eugene Simonoff, who had a house in the Georgica Estates section of East Hampton, died at his residence in New York City on Oct. 14. He was 95.
Mr. Simonoff was a mergers and acquisitions consultant whose firm, Eugene Simonoff and Associates, had clients such as BNA, The New York Times, John Wiley, Wolters Kluwer, and Thomson Reuters over the past 22 years. He was associated with publishing firms and read several newspapers every day. He was a particular fan of The New York Times and the letters section of The East Hampton Star.
Mr. Simonoff was born on Oct. 5, 1917, in New York City to Louis and Fannie B. Simonoff. He attended Cornell University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University.
Mr. Simonoff served for four years in the United States Army in World War II, assigned primarily to the Pentagon, but he also was sent to Algeria and Morocco. After the war, he began a career in publishing at the Ronald Press, a professional and college textbook firm, as an editor and then executive vice president. He then joined the legal and professional publisher Warren, Gorham and Lamont, launching its textbook division. It was there that he became involved in acquisition expansion strategy, leading to his next career.
Mr. Simooff was a devoted theater patron, dating from his Cornell years. He also followed politics. In East Hampton, he played tennis, took long walks, and enjoyed the ocean beach at Georgica, where he liked to socialize with a group his wife, Lenore Fiddelman Simonoff, called the Georgica Salon. He was also excellent at Ping Pong.
Mr. Simonoff is survived by his wife, and two children from his marriage to the former Elizabeth Sage, who died before him. They are Evan Simonoff of New York City and Emily Simonoff of London. He also is survived by two grandchildren, two stepchildren, and five step-grandchildren. A service was held on Oct. 16 at the Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City, with a graveside service at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens. A memorial lunch was also held, at the Cornell Club in the city. Memorial donations have been suggested to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Hospital’s department of cardiology, attention Dr. Steven Corwin, 525 East 68th Street, New York 10065.