Robert E. Simon
Robert E. Simon | |
---|---|
Born | Robert E. Simon, Jr. April 10, 1914 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | September 21, 2015 Reston, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 101)
Education | Horace Mann School |
Alma mater | Harvard University (1931-1935) |
Occupation | Real estate entrepreneur |
Years active | 1946-2015 |
Known for | Founding Reston, Virginia |
Robert E. "Bob" Simon, Jr. (April 10, 1914 – September 21, 2015)[1] was an American real estate entrepreneur, most known for founding the community of Reston, Virginia.[2][3][4] He was the maternal uncle of feminist historian and writer Elizabeth Fox-Genovese.[5]
Early life
Simon was born in New York City in 1914[6] to a family that immigrated from Germany.[7][8] Robert was raised in Manhattan along with his siblings.
Reston
After graduating from Harvard University, Simon took over the family real estate management and development business. In 1961, with the proceeds from the sale of a family property, Carnegie Hall, Simon purchased 6,750 acres (27 km²) of land in Fairfax County, Virginia and hired Conklin + Rossant[9] to develop a master plan for the new town of Reston, Virginia, a planned community well known on the national level. (The town's name was derived from Simon's initials and the word "town".)[4][10] Simon's new town concept emphasized quality of life for the individual and provided a community where people could live, work, and play without driving long distances.
Simon returned to live in an apartment near Lake Anne in Reston in 1993[10] and helped celebrate Reston's 40th birthday in 2004.[11] In that same year a bronze statue of Simon was placed on a park bench in Washington Plaza on Lake Anne, the original heart of the community he built.[4][11]
A collection of Simon's donated materials is housed at the Specials Collections Research Center at the George Mason University Libraries.
References
- ^ "Robert E. Simon, 101, Reston Founder, Dies". www.connectionnewspapers.com.
- ^ McFadden, Robert D. (September 21, 2015). "Robert E. Simon Jr., Who Created a Town, Reston, Va., Dies at 101". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ Morello, Carol (March 25, 2004). "At Home With His Creation". Washington Post. p. T8.
- ^ a b c "A Brief History of Reston". RestonMuseum.org. Reston Historic Trust. Retrieved June 30, 2013. Original work: Gulf Reston, Inc (1970). A Brief History of Reston, Virginia.
- ^ Fox and Simon Family Papers, 1862–1991, UNC.
- ^ "House Joint Resolution No. 1009, Commending Robert E. Simon". Commonwealth of Virginia. February 28, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ "Douglas Ambrose", Christendom review, 1 (2).
- ^ "Fox‐Genovese, Elizabeth Ann", Encyclopedia - Jrank, J rank.
- ^ "James Rossant - Architect". December 17, 2005. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
- ^ a b McKeon, Nancy (August 16, 1999). "A Town Grows in Fairfax". Washington Post. p. A1. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
- ^ a b "Reston Celebrates 40 Years!". Myers Public Relations. April 14, 2004. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
External links
- A Brief History of Reston, Virginia
- Guide to the Robert E. Simon, Jr. papers, 1960-2006
- James Rossant, master planner of Reston