Richard L. Simon

Richard L. Simon
Born	Template:Birth date New York City, U.S.
Died	July 29, 1960(1960-07-29) (aged 61) Riverdale, Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Publisher
Years active	1920s–1957
Known for	Co-founder of Simon & Schuster

Richard Leo Simon (March 6, 1899 – July 29, 1960) was an influential American publisher and co-founder of the renowned publishing firm Simon & Schuster alongside Max Schuster. He was also the father of the acclaimed singer-songwriter Carly Simon.

Early life and family

Simon was born in New York City into an affluent Jewish household. His father, Leo Simon, was a prosperous manufacturer specializing in feathers and silk, with roots tracing back to German Jewish heritage. His mother, Anna (née Meier), was a German Jewish immigrant. Raised with a strong focus on universal ethics inspired by the Ethical Culture movement, he attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School before continuing his education at Columbia University.

Following his service in World War I, Simon initially worked as a piano salesman prior to embarking on his publishing career.

He was the eldest among five siblings—Henry, Alfred, George, and Elizabeth—all bearing names inspired by British royalty. His brother George T. Simon gained recognition as a jazz drummer with Glenn Miller and later became a prominent jazz critic and author specializing in the swing era. Another brother, Henry W. Simon, served as an English professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, contributed as a classical music critic for PM, and ultimately held editorial and vice presidential roles at Simon & Schuster. Alfred worked as a rehearsal pianist for the Gershwin brothers, programmed content for WQXR, and authored works on musical theatre. Their sister Elizabeth married Dr. Arthur Seligmann.

Career

Before entering publishing, Simon began his professional journey as a sugar importer and then transitioned to selling pianos, where he met Max Schuster. Subsequently, he joined publisher Boni & Liveright as a salesman and swiftly advanced to sales manager.

In collaboration with Max Schuster, Simon invested $8,000 to produce the inaugural crossword puzzle book in 1924. He was a trailblazer in the fields of marketing, merchandising, promotion, and advertising tailored specifically for booksellers. Simon contributed a weekly column titled Inner Sanctum to Publishers Weekly, while Schuster penned a column of the same name for The New York Times. The term also referred to the editorial space situated between their offices.

Michael Korda recalled observing a bronze plaque on Simon’s desk at Simon & Schuster—designed by Richard Simon himself—that read "Give the reader a break," underscoring their commitment to clarity and reader accessibility. After suffering two heart attacks, Simon retired in 1957.

Personal life

On August 3, 1934, Simon wed Andrea Heinemann, who worked as a switchboard operator at Simon & Schuster. Raised in Philadelphia, she was born to a Cuban-born Roman Catholic mother and a German-speaking Swiss father who had left the family. Andrea identified part of her heritage as "Moorish," though she was of Afro-Cuban descent.

The couple had four children:

• Joanna Simon (1936–2022), an opera mezzo-soprano turned New York real estate professional
• Lucy Simon (1940–2022), composer for Broadway productions
• Carly Simon (born 1943), renowned singer-songwriter
• Peter Simon (1947–2018), distinguished photographer recognized nationally

Death

Simon passed away in 1960 due to a heart attack. At the time, he lived in Fieldston, a neighborhood located in Riverdale, Bronx.

External links

• Timeline 1898–1899
• Guide to the Richard L. Simon papers at Columbia University's Rare Book & Manuscript Library