Simon J. Kalish, 97, of Kansas City, Missouri, died peacefully at home with family on Dec. 5.
He was born on April 1, 1926, to Alex and Bessie Kalish in Detroit, Michigan.
He attended the University of Colorado Boulder, Wayne State University, Michigan State University (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and University of Michigan (Master of Public Health) where he met Marjorie Beers, who also earned a MPH degree.
They married on Feb. 14, 1958, and moved to New York, where he worked for Pfizer in pharmaceutical animal health. Following the birth of their daughters, they moved to Prairie Village, Kansas, where he worked for Jensen-Salsbery Laboratories.
While in Colorado, he developed a long love for the outdoors and mountains. He was a member of the Buffalo Ski Club and Colorado Hiking Club. He had a magnetic personality and a special gift of connecting with people from all backgrounds.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Marjorie (Beers) Kalish; brother, Issadore Kalish; and son-in-law, Roderick Simpkins.
Dr. Kalish leaves behind daughters, Cynthia Simpkins and Elizabeth (Cynthia Dodge) Kalish; granddaughters, Sara (Keeling) McLin and Kimberley (Mathew) Traxinger; great-grandsons, K. Andrew and Michael McLin; sisters, Dorothy Willis and Ida Chapin; and many nieces and nephews.