David Simon, nephew of Pacers owner Herb Simon, passes away at 64
The longtime Simon Property Group chairman and Indiana native led the company for nearly three decades and was deeply connected to the Pacers family.
A member of one of Indiana’s most prominent business families has died.
David Simon, chairman, CEO and president of Simon Property Group, died March 22 following a battle with cancer, the company announced Monday. He was 64.
Simon was the son of the late Mel Simon, who died in 2009, also from cancer.
In 2006, a $50 million donation led to the renaming of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center in his honor.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Simon Property Group grew into the world’s largest retail real estate company under David Simon’s leadership. He was named CEO in 1995 at age 33 and was a 1983 graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
“My family and I are deeply saddened by my nephew David’s passing,” Pacers owner Herb Simon said in a statement. “I was proud to see him grow into an exceptional and transformative leader whose vision, dedication and discipline helped shape Simon Property Group into the world’s leading retail real estate company. His impact on our family, our community and the real estate industry will be felt for generations to come. We will miss him greatly.”
David and his wife, Jackie, had five children: Eli, Rebecca, Hannah, Sam and Noah.
(Disclosure: As an Indianapolis native, I own shares of SPG.)