Chris McArdle ’62 once casually remarked to his longtime friend, business partner, and LMU classmate Omer Simeon ’63 that he liked the tie Simeon was wearing. Much to McArdle’s surprise, Simeon immediately took off the tie and gave it to McArdle as a gift. When another close friend, Jim Davis ’62, contemplated a trip to a Stockholm medical clinic to seek specialized treatment following a stroke, Simeon insisted on taking time off from work to accompany him. “That was Omer — his giving spirit was unbelievable, over the top,” say both Davis and McArdle.
Simeon’s wife, Cynthia, is also effusive about her late husband’s generosity and kindness toward all people, no matter who they were. The couple went into business together under the name Hands on Transitional Management (HTM), specializing in automation and change management. They worked many late nights with a variety of Fortune 500 and startup clients and often became friendly with the janitors who appeared during the wee hours. When a project was completed, a party was thrown for all the participants, and the janitors and their families were also invited.
“He was a man for all people,” says Cynthia. “Omer was as comfortable working out a problem with a technician at 2 a.m., beer in hand, as he was attending a board of directors meeting at 3 in the afternoon. His analytical skills and his love of art and music epitomized the qualities of the Renaissance man that he was.”
During his lifetime, Simeon was an LMU electrical engineering graduate, star player for the university’s outstanding men’s basketball team, and a highly successful technology and business consultant. Now, thanks to a bequest created by Simeon and his wife, the beloved alumnus will continue to have a palpable impact on future generations of Lions: The promised gift will fund the Omer and Evelyn Simeon Scholarship (Evelyn is Cynthia’s legal name), which will support science and engineering students at LMU with the goal of increasing diversity.
“Omer Simeon set a remarkable example as a gifted student and star athlete who went on to a rich and fulfilling STEM career,” says Tina Choe, dean of LMU Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering. “His thoughtful bequest lays the groundwork for many future Omer Simeons to attend LMU and realize their own dreams and ambitions.”
Simeon grew up in the Watts neighborhood of South Los Angeles. He and his siblings were showered with love, support, and encouragement to be all that they could be. Simeon set his sights on college and was able to attend LMU thanks to a basketball scholarship. He cherished and made the most of his time at the university, establishing many lifelong friendships. As Cynthia writes in the informational brochure that will be given to each scholarship recipient: “Omer saw education as a tool to expand your life. He saw it as the great leveler. Education was where you were going, not where you came from. He saw university as the pond that enveloped people wanting to make their lives better.”
Following graduation, Simeon, McArdle, and Davis, who had all majored in electrical engineering, went to work in various positions at General Dynamics, an aerospace and defense company. Although the friends thrived in their individual roles — particularly Simeon, who quickly rose to senior positions — they were wary of job instability caused by government whims. In 1971, they decided to launch Prodyne, their own manufacturing and design company. Their first product idea, an affordable gourmet cheese slicer, became a groundbreaking success, and today, the company is co-owned and operated by McArdle’s son, Scott. Simeon also went on to a high-level role at 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, helping them work out payment systems for their complex network of paid actors, among other projects. He then became an independent consultant for various institutions before settling into his business with Cynthia.
The Simeons were enthusiastic supporters of education and made many gifts to LMU over the years, giving to The Learning Community at LMU and the African American Alumni Association Scholarship, among other areas. They particularly admired the Jesuit style of education; although Cynthia is Jewish, she came to appreciate the openness and acceptance of the Jesuit tradition. “At the end of his life, Omer was in a great deal of pain,” she says. “One thing that would bring him great comfort and peace was a visit from Father Bill Muller, a former president of Verbum Dei High School.” Located in Simeon’s childhood neighborhood of Watts, Verbum Dei is a Jesuit boys’ high school that was also dear to his heart. Simeon served on the school board, made sure programs were in place to ensure student success, and left a bequest to the school to support scholarships.
After a lifetime of accomplishment, Omer Simeon passed away in October 2021. Through his generous bequests, Simeon celebrates and supports the Jesuit education and values that shaped who he became, helping future generations to achieve the career success and satisfaction that he was able to enjoy in his lifetime.
You can join Omer and Cynthia Simeon in igniting a brighter world by supporting scholarships at Seaver College. Or, to discuss making a legacy gift of your own, contact Bonnie Hayden, executive director of development, gift planning, at bonnie.hayden@lmu.edu or 310.338.2920.
