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Last night my step father died with me and my mother kneeling beside him whispering important words. Toby succumbed to a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He died easily and peacefully. I found this video from 2017, I was messing with a music app and Toby asked if he could read his poetry over my jam. Because of Toby I grew up around good things like: poetry, meditation, kindness, humility and love for your fellow human. Last year he asked me to arrange the physician assisted suicide for him. We reminisced about the old samurai movies we watched together when I was a kid, and how he would explain the seppuko scenes to me where a samurai would take his own life. I told him that when the time comes I would be his “second”and make sure he died a peacefully, just like the samurai did. His disease progressed and he slowly became beyond capacity for the CA right to die law. A few days later he stopped drinking and died smooth and easy at 8:10 last night with my hand on his shoulder. I played the oyster river hornpipe on my fiddle because it was the only tune I could remember at the time and it has a sad sound to me reminiscent of fife and drum. But something free and improvised was more Tobys style so here is our blues jam.
Francis Metcalf

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My father, Tobin Simon, passed away last Monday evening, peacefully and at home. At his side, were his wife Linda, son Francis. I was lucky because in January I took a trip to Oakland to be with him and my California family. While my father was at the end of his battle with Parkinson’s, it was wonderful to say goodbye to him at a time when he could smile, talk and enjoy the people around him; all loved him very much and were part of his story: Son of Mollie and Izzy; Brother to Bernie; longtime friend to Judith; Basketball player and team captain (when his college won the conference championship), father to Francis, Mia and Derek; grandfather to Zach and Miranda, first husband to Eileen; Uncle to Ivan and Jerry; and, ultimately loving partner to Linda. There are more people who I cannot list who helped shape his life, his friends from Pratt and PW Center, Loffer family (some newly discovered), his Uncle Henry and Aunt Frieda…(again, I am sorry if I am missing you on this list). Dad, what a story you created! Thank you for helping me be the person I am; for loving me in the best way you could and for not letting go until the time was right. You were deeply loved and will be missed. Rest in peace. 

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My father, Tobin Simon, passed away last Monday evening, peacefully and at home. At his side, were his wife Linda, son Francis. I was lucky because in January I took a trip to Oakland to be with him and my California family. While my father was at the end of his battle with Parkinson’s, it was wonderful to say goodbye to him at a time when he could smile, talk and enjoy the people around him; all loved him very much and were part of his story: Son of Mollie and Izzy; Brother to Bernie; longtime friend to Judith; Basketball player and team captain (when his college won the conference championship), father to Francis, Mia and Derek; grandfather to Zach and Miranda, first husband to Eileen; Uncle to Ivan and Jerry; and, ultimately loving partner to Linda. There are more people who I cannot list who helped shape his life, his friends from Pratt and PW Center, Loffer family (some newly discovered), his Uncle Henry and Aunt Frieda…(again, I am sorry if I am missing you on this list). Dad, what a story you created! Thank you for helping me be the person I am; for loving me in the best way you could and for not letting go until the time was right. You were deeply loved and will be missed. Rest in peace. 

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.Mia Simon

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He was in my dream last night. RIP my friend.
Jim Bowers

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Written and Read
by Tobin Simon

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Tobs, my sweet friend, teacher, playmate ... such a life, such a man!

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Tobs, my sweet friend, teacher, playmate ... such a life, such a man!

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Selby Frame

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Toby w/Joan Patrick (also  Resting in Peace, PW & Poetry)

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Toby on poetry
Francis on strings

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Dearest Toby knowing you has added value beyond words to my life. A deep bow of gratitude to you.    

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Dearest Toby knowing you has added value beyond words to my life. A deep bow of gratitude to you.    

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Ginny Keegan

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All over the country, proprioceptive writers are grateful for the life of Tobin Simon. He and Linda Trichter Metcalf are life-changers.

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All over the country, proprioceptive writers are grateful for the life of Tobin Simon. He and Linda Trichter Metcalf are life-changers.

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Sandra Deer

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Mac McCabe

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Steve Page

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Your light will shine on in our hearts    

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Your light will shine on in our hearts    

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Monica Dominak

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I’m so sorry. Toby my favorite teacher.
Peggy Herron

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Our sincere Condolences to the entire Tobin Simon Family...Ben and Lorrie Haberman

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Our sincere Condolences to the entire Tobin Simon Family...Ben and Lorrie Haberman

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Ben Haberman

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So many memories of watching Toby listening to Writes, a gift to have found a photograph. So beautiful, Toby. And I have many memories of how he would listen to and watch Linda, as she taught, with such fullness of love and affection, grooving on her brilliance. I would catch his eye sometimes and we would meet there and smile. Toby Simon ever the student, ever the teacher.   Jenny P

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Toby and student, Lulu!

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Written and Read
by Tobin Simon

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I am so very sorry. Such a great and gentle man. I was blessed to be in one of his classes at Omega. May he rest in peace. Prayers for the family, friends and all who were touched by him.

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I am so very sorry. Such a great and gentle man. I was blessed to be in one of his classes at Omega. May he rest in peace. Prayers for the family, friends and all who were touched by him.

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Janis Rothermel

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I am so sorry that he has gone; his legacy lives on and heals many....

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I am so sorry that he has gone; his legacy lives on and heals many....

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Sue Booth-Forbes

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Dear Toby, I miss you every day. You’ve been in my heart for forty-plus years and that will never change. Teacher, brother, deep And devoted friend, rare companion on this path. A kinder soul is hard to imagine, and a good thinker, and a wonderful poet...and even funny. Rare qualities to find in one person.
Loving you always, Jane

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Toby, I first met you at least 35 years ago and immediately was drawn to your gentle soul. I would say the world has lost a wonderful man, which is in some ways true, but you have left us more than you can impossibly imagine. What I learned throught the PW that you and Linda have so widely shared has changed my life and I thank you both. I love the Rest in Poetry saying, so I will borrow it here. Rest in Poetry, dear Toby
Brynna Kaulback

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Sweet, kind, perceptive Toby. Gently and surely seeing into and touching the other's creative essence. In your warm and playful embrace, we did not feel other.         You wrote, "so many of us, warmed by [his] glowing."           And "through your tears you see blue water."            Love and gratitude to you and dear Linda,     Margot McCain

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Sweet, kind, perceptive Toby. Gently and surely seeing into and touching the other's creative essence. In your warm and playful embrace, we did not feel other.         You wrote, "so many of us, warmed by [his] glowing."           And "through your tears you see blue water."            Love and gratitude to you and dear Linda,     Margot McCain

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I worked with Toby through many many writes and absolutely loved him as a teacher, and when I met him face to face, as a person.  Thanks Toby , for sharing your gifts and healing so many people around you. With gratitude, Virginia

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The mass of men
(the Massive Men)
(the mass of Massive Men)
leading lives
of quiet (or not) desperation—
Silently (or not)
practicing resignation—
Secretly (or not)
seeking domination.
The Massive Mass of Massive Men
Marching
not to the beat & rhythm & feel
of each their own interiority.
Marching
in mindless lock-step
to the deadly dull droning drumbeat of Perpetual War.
The Man Commanding
The Department of Masculinity
Demanding
Blind Obedience
From the minions of
Master-Mister-Doctor Know-It-Alls.

And then along came Toby
Not marching to the beat of his own or anyone else’s drummer.
Swaying to the sounds & rhythms & feel—the absolute groove—of
his own granular interiority.
Making his own dance sure.
I still hear those luscious liquid L’s rolling off his tongue—
Lifelong Learning Creatures
Living Life Alive
Not Living What Is Not Life.
Noble no bull teacher—
his genius the gift of his listening presence
his intent intense focus.
Farewell
O you of glorious origin
Dear Tobin Simon
Old Goat
Brother Toby
Holy goof Toby
Sacred clown Toby.
Your aliveness lives in me.

Ralph Hurwitz, August 2020

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Thank you, Toby, for the many gifts you gave me. You will be missed by so many. I have this picture of you and Linda on my wall. I look at it often. The delight on your face is so inspiring. Love, Ann Mullen

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Please accept my heartfelt condolences; it was so long ago that I knew Toby through Linda... and he was always so kind to me, so good natured and even tempered with an easy smile for me. Such a lovely man. I wish Linda and the family comfort during the days ahead.

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Please accept my heartfelt condolences; it was so long ago that I knew Toby through Linda... and he was always so kind to me, so good natured and even tempered with an easy smile for me. Such a lovely man. I wish Linda and the family comfort during the days ahead.

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Debbie

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such a sweet and wonderful man.  He and Linda challenging us to commit to our stories, encouraging us to be courageously curious about the life within, and creating a reliable pathway to the deepest self.  So many of us in Portland were touched by you both and continued the journey.  I think of how much my now deceased spouse Sheila seized on your wisdom and expanded her own to the benefit of us all.  Thank you so much and rest well noble spirit. Pierre Shevenell

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Written and Read by Toby Simon

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As a passing thought I googled his name & was saddened by his passing...I knew him in '73 & '74 at Pratt; he was so supportive of my juvenile poetry, even published a couple of poems in Snakeroots.  He lived a life of teaching & giving wih a warm, generous heart.

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As a passing thought I googled his name & was saddened by his passing...I knew him in '73 & '74 at Pratt; he was so supportive of my juvenile poetry, even published a couple of poems in Snakeroots.  He lived a life of teaching & giving wih a warm, generous heart.

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Phil Linz

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all that jazz ......

Toby,
Generous. Humble. Kind.
A smile I always carry in my heart.
All those words. And now the Zen.

Off you go then.You belong to the stars now. and all that jazz .....

PS: give my love to Julie when you
see her.

Jim Needham

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Toby Simon and I were friends for about 65 years.  We grew up in small Western Pennsylvania towns just miles apart (Fredericktown and Charleroi), played sports together in youth leagues, and got to know each other well.  I met his parents and older brother, Bernie, when they invited me to dinner at their home on multiple occasions.  My family reciprocated. In 1958, Toby and I both applied to Washington & Jefferson College and were both accepted.  One day that summer Toby appeared at my front door and asked if I would like to be his roommate in college.  I readily agreed. We were roommates in the freshman dorm, pledged Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and roomed together in the frat house for the rest of our college years.  Toby was not only a top student but also a fine athlete.  He was a star point guard on the varsity basketball team and was elected captain in his senior year.  During our college years Toby and I had many adventures together.  One summer we hitchhiked from Washington, PA to the Adirondack Mountains where we enjoyed the scenery, the wide lakes, the fresh air, and the mountain girls who were healthy and friendly.    After college we went our separate ways and didn't see much of each other in person.  However, we kept in touch via the mail, by phone, and later via email.  The last time I saw Toby in person was about 25 years ago in New York City.  He was already in the early stages of Parkinson's disease and had a noticeable tremor.  We had a fine time in the big city that week:  we reminisced about good times past and looked forward to the future.        In later years Toby was slow in answering emails, and after a while he became unresponsive. Thanks to Howard Kamler, our fraternity brother and mutual friend, in the early summer of 2020 I learned that Toby was suffering from advanced Parkinson's.  Alarmed, I called Toby in late June.  His caretaker answered the phone, said that Toby was having a good day and that he would like to talk with me.  I heard a weak, "Hello Bruce."  I said, "Do you want to talk or should I talk?"  He said, "You talk."  And I did, non-stop for about half an hour.  Toby didn't say much, but I could tell that he was enjoying our personal conversation.       I was heartbroken when I learned that Toby had died.           His was a life well lived.           Rest in peace, dear friend.         Bruce Janoff     412-352-2880 janoffb@gmail.com       

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Toby Simon and I were friends for about 65 years.  We grew up in small Western Pennsylvania towns just miles apart (Fredericktown and Charleroi), played sports together in youth leagues, and got to know each other well.  I met his parents and older brother, Bernie, when they invited me to dinner at their home on multiple occasions.  My family reciprocated. In 1958, Toby and I both applied to Washington & Jefferson College and were both accepted.  One day that summer Toby appeared at my front door and asked if I would like to be his roommate in college.  I readily agreed. We were roommates in the freshman dorm, pledged Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and roomed together in the frat house for the rest of our college years.  Toby was not only a top student but also a fine athlete.  He was a star point guard on the varsity basketball team and was elected captain in his senior year.  During our college years Toby and I had many adventures together.  One summer we hitchhiked from Washington, PA to the Adirondack Mountains where we enjoyed the scenery, the wide lakes, the fresh air, and the mountain girls who were healthy and friendly.    After college we went our separate ways and didn't see much of each other in person.  However, we kept in touch via the mail, by phone, and later via email.  The last time I saw Toby in person was about 25 years ago in New York City.  He was already in the early stages of Parkinson's disease and had a noticeable tremor.  We had a fine time in the big city that week:  we reminisced about good times past and looked forward to the future.        In later years Toby was slow in answering emails, and after a while he became unresponsive. Thanks to Howard Kamler, our fraternity brother and mutual friend, in the early summer of 2020 I learned that Toby was suffering from advanced Parkinson's.  Alarmed, I called Toby in late June.  His caretaker answered the phone, said that Toby was having a good day and that he would like to talk with me.  I heard a weak, "Hello Bruce."  I said, "Do you want to talk or should I talk?"  He said, "You talk."  And I did, non-stop for about half an hour.  Toby didn't say much, but I could tell that he was enjoying our personal conversation.       I was heartbroken when I learned that Toby had died.           His was a life well lived.           Rest in peace, dear friend.         Bruce Janoff     412-352-2880 janoffb@gmail.com       

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Picture: Toby as King Bacchus at W & J College