Melvin Simon

Melvin Simon (October 21, 1926 – September 16, 2009) was an American businessman and film producer, who co-founded the largest shopping mall company in the United States, Simon Property Group, with his younger brother, Herb Simon. The pair jointly purchased the Indiana Pacers in 1983.

Early life and education Simon was born to a Jewish family in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He grew up in the Bronx and was the son of Max and Mae Simon. His father was a tailor who emigrated from Central Europe. Simon graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and earned a degree in accounting from the City College of New York in 1949. He served in the US Army where he was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis in 1953. He supplemented his army pay working as a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman. After leaving the military, he decided to stay in Indianapolis and took a job as a leasing agent when he saw the potential in real estate. They later divorced (she remarried as Bess Koby and died of cancer in 1977). They had three children: Deborah Simon, and David E. Simon (1961-2026), who became chairman and CEO of Simon Property Group.

Simon was a member of the Beth-El Zedeck congregation in Indianapolis.

Simon died of cancer on September 16, 2009, at the age of 82.

The judge presiding over the settlement agreed to close the final December 12, 2012, hearing and accept the terms under seal. Although Cynthia Simon-Skjodt declined to comment on the agreement, other than to say she was "glad it's over", upon entering into an elevator with Deborah Simon one of the sisters yelled out a celebratory "YEAH!" after the doors closed. Jewish Welfare Federation's "Man of the Year" The Horatio Alger Award Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame "Lifetime Trustee" of the Urban Land Institute, 2003 Trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers Real Estate Legends Hall of Fame housed at the USC School of Urban Planning and Development Honorary doctorate degrees from Indiana University Kelley School of Business and Butler University