Page 16 - Priorities #21 2003-January

Trustee Profile
Once upon a time, Priory Trustee Bob Simon and his high school track coach had a little chat — directly after Bob ran in an intramural mile event and handily unseated the rankingvarsitymileratthetime. Outofthis fortuitous conversation came a high school varsity track career, an athletic scholarship to Stanford University,andalifephilosophy. “Thecoachtold my folks, ‘Bob will be a good miler, if he just doesn’t think about it too much.’”
Although those who know him at all might have something to say about how much quality thinking Bob Simon—a.k.a. former Air Force pilot, SRI marketing exec, Assistant Dean for Corporate Relations at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, North American Director of Development for the American University in Cairo, local ambassador for Priory-Slovak relations, and published author of light verse—really does, Bob concurs with his coach. He says that he tries “not to get too introspective, so when something comes along that just looks right to me,Itendtodoitwithoutalotofthought. Sofar, the Slovak student program and serving on the Priory’s Board of Trustees are two ‘quick decisions’ that I’m very happy about.”
The Priory community would certainly agree. It was a “quick Simon decision” that resulted in the
Priory becoming involved with the Slovak student program, for which he is the local link. A fraternity brother who now lives in Bardejov, Slovak Republic, founded it.
“I don’t remember who suggested the Priory, but I do recall going on the Web and looking at Tim’s picture and saying to myself, ‘He looks like a nice guy.’”
A phone call and some logistical discussion, and Priory had its first two official Slovakian students, membersoftheClassof2000. ButBobwasnotgoing to escape so easily—he was summarily invited to sit on the Board of Trustees, an excellent example of many who serve the Priory through no alumni or familial relations, but simply as friends and benefactors.
Bob also has contributed his time and talents to the Development Committee (which he will soon chair), and various aspects of the Golden Jubilee Campaign, right down to helping coin the name and subsequently designing the signature logo.
Bob describes computer graphics as being one of his two current vices (or passions), the other being lightverse. Hisrecentlypublishedbook,Fleeting Rhyme,istheheartofafundraisingproject. The proceeds from the book sales (which are brisk— almost 1,200 copies sold to date) go to Stanford scholarshipsandothercharities. Hehasrecited excerpts before more than 60 audiences and now has beenaskedtowritecommissionedpoems. Andifhe needs anything else to fill his golden years of retirement, there’s always the Los Altos Library Endowment, which he originally helped to found andnowservesontheboardofdirectors. Orhis “small business” -LogoToGo.
And what does Bob say about his vast and varied interests? “Rightlyorwrongly,Ifeelthatmylegacy willbethepoetry. Itwon’tbecomputergraphics,or fundraising slogans...” That is, of course, excepting his progeny, of which he and wife Annie have three. Whatever legacy Bob Simon leaves, it will certainly include many instances of “running the mile” for his friends, family, and community.
—J. Dobervich
Bob Simon
Lives in Los Altos, CA
Wife: Annette
Family: Three grown children three grandchildren Education: MBA, Stanford University
Favorite Activities: computer graphics, light verse
WPS Assignment: Development Committee, Golden Jubilee Campaign Leadership Team
The sketch and the poem below are taken from Bob’s book of light verse, Fleeting Rhyme. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy or arranging a reading is invited to contact Bob at bob@logotogo. com. Proceeds will benefit the Priory scholarship fund.
The Poetry Lesson
What was my best teacher’s yearning? Not great teaching,
Just great learning.
She taught me how to see, in time Where there’s reason-
There, there’s rhyme.
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