Dr. Mel P. Simón, age 89 of Gallipolis, Ohio Passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025, in Evanston, IL, surrounded by his loving family.
A Life Well-Lived
Dr. Mel P. Simón was born on October 29, 1935, in Angadanan, Isabela, Philippines, to Lucrecia Palatao Simón and Melecio G. Simón. He was the eighth of twelve children.
During his medical school years, he met his Valentine sweetheart, Lydia Sarzaba Simón, a young nurse who would become the love of his life. In 1959, when Dr. Simón traveled to the United States for further medical training, he arranged to be on Lydia’s flight, knowing that she was also heading to the U.S. for a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. They married that same year and soon arranged to work at the same hospital.
Dr. Simón graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Medical School in 1959 and completed his surgical internship and residency in Urology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago in 1966.
Settling in Gallipolis, Ohio, Dr. Simón dedicated his life to serving the community. He was the only urologist across several counties while working with Holzer Hospital. In 1972, he and Lydia founded the Hillcrest Urological Clinic, and also operated on his patients out of four hospitals in Ohio and West Virginia. His commitment to healthcare extended beyond urology—he was a founding member of Pinecrest Nursing Home, now known as The Arbors, in 1978.
He was an active member of the SPSA having served in various capacities for the society and was elected as President in 1987.
A man of deep generosity and service, Dr. Simón was actively involved in the Rotary Club of Gallipolis. Alongside Lydia, he led “Operation We Care,” a medical-surgical mission team that provided care to indigent patients in remote areas of the Philippines for over 30 years. With the help of Rotary International and local Rotarians, he brought hope and healing to many. His leadership was widely recognized, and he was honored to be the first Filipino-American to serve as District Governor of Rotary District 6690 in the United States (1998-1999).
In 2009, he established the French 500 Free Clinic in Gallia County to provide medical care to uninsured patients. He also served on the Rio Grande University Board of Trustees for many years. In 2010, he was honored and inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to the community.
Dr. Simón proudly served in the United States Air Force Reserves, Medical Corps, achieving the rank of full Colonel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. His love for service blended with his passion for flying, and he became an instrument-rated pilot, flying his own planes.
A philanthropist, he and Lydia were instrumental in the restoration of the historic Ariel Opera House Theatre, which led to the birth of the Ohio Valley Symphony Orchestra, where he served on the Board of Directors.
A world traveler, Dr. Simón always found solace at his home by the Ohio River. Fulfilling his father’s dream of becoming a farmer, he purchased and worked on a 150-acre historical dairy farm in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, renaming it Simón’s Old Town Farm.
He was an avid Harley motorcyclist, a downhill skier, and a lover of water sports and boating. A devout Catholic, he was a 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and an active parishioner at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Tributes from his colleagues fellow SPSA members:
From: Heart of Hope <scalpelpen@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Subject:
To: Maria Simon <mls.nsdc@gmail.com>
Maria,
My wife, Farida, and I are saddened to hear about your Dad’s passing. Indeed, he was a great part of the SPSA, and we missed him for the past few years. His legacy of service will live on and he will be remembered well here and in the Philippines.
Our condolences and prayers go with him, your Mom, and all the members of your family.
May Mel rest in eternal peace and walk with God.
God bless all of you.
Phil
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS
Chairman
SPSA Council of Past Presidents
On Thursday, March 13, 2025, 11:30 AM, Edgardo Mallari Navarro <ednavmd@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Malou and the Simon ( Lydia ) family.
Our deepest condolences and prayers to your family. RIP to the Soul of Mel Simon !!!
Best regards to the Simon family
ed m. navarro
http://www.navatro-mallari-Stiftung.de
Germany
Daniel Fabito, MD <danielfabitomd@gmail.com>:
HI MALOU,
Very sad to learn of your DAD’S passing away last March 7, 2025. Please extend our Condolences to your Mom, Lydia and to your brothers/sisters and family. May he rest in Peace and we pray for the repose of his soul and may he join our Lord in Paradise.
We have always been close with your DaD and MOM through all these years with our SPSA and Surgical Missions.
Sincerely,
Uncle Dan and Tita Melinda Fabito.
From: Maria Simon <mls.nsdc@gmail.com>
Date: March 12, 2025 at 8:02:40 PM PDT
To: Daniel C Fabito <danielfab@cox.net>, Heart of Hope <scalpelpen@gmail.com>, hmr.pds@gmail.com
Dear Uncle Hernan and Dr Fabito,
I am so sad to inform you that my father Mel passed away on Friday March 7th. His obituary (Donnellan Funeral Home in Skokie) is posted but given the sheer amount of service and projects my father has been involved with I neglected to mention how important his early work with the SPSA was to him. He has been in poor health for the past 3 years and missed the jubilee as my brother Paul had passed in 2021. Dad passed peacefully in our presence where we lovingly held him with my Mom, Lydia.
I am in the process of revising his obituary for the funeral home in Ohio where will be entombed on March 29th. His funeral mass and celebration of life will be held in Evanston IL on March 22, Saturday at St Mary’s church of St John XXIII parish. Celebration of life and luncheon
will be at 11;30 am. in the Merion Crystal BallRoom in downtown Evanston.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Mobile Number is 847-508-2253
My deep respect and regards,
MaLu