Comrade John Lee Simon died on November 20 from multiple sclerosis, which he fought for many years and which ultimately debilitated him. Lee had a smile that lit up his face and those of others around him. We remember him with that smile and a bunch of CHALLENGES in his arm, lined up so you could see both the English and Spanish versions.
Lee was a determined, disciplined and courageous comrade, full of love for, and confidence in, the working class. As a junior high school science teacher he led many anti-racist struggles inside the school and in the community where he lived. Almost daily he visited parents and students in their homes. He sold them CHALLENGE, confidently saying that it is a revolutionary, communist newspaper and patiently explaining why it was important to read. Years later his students greeted him in the street; they called him Simon. Even as grown young men and women, Lee often remembered their names.
Lee was a generous, principled and selfless fighter for the working class. His practice exemplified his dedication to work collectively with his comrades and students, parents and teachers. Later he became a high school biology teacher. He continued to participate in and lead numerous fight-backs inside and outside the school, confronting a hated, tyrannical principal, always with CHALLENGE in his hands.
Once the principal tried to fire Lee. But to do so he had to excess five teachers with less seniority than Lee. Immediately Lee talked with his PLP club and together made a plan to mobilize teachers, students and parents to fight back, not only to save the teachers’ jobs, but also to sharpen the struggle against the many problems the students and staff faced in the school. As Lee and his students wrote for and distributed CHALLENGE, the students learned more about communism.
The Board of Education sent Lee to another school where he faced a heavier teaching load and torturous trips up and down stairs, as the multiple sclerosis caused his motor skills to diminish. Despite the difficulties Lee continued the fight and won his previous job back the following year, while the principal was forced to resign! Lee’s determination and optimism never faltered.
Lee always stood up to anti-communism. Although increasingly uneasy on his feet he insisted on selling CHALLENGE on a street corner where he and other comrades always went. When a cowardly, loud-mouthed anti-communist threatened to hit him and take his CHALLENGES, Lee remained steadfast. Within seconds another comrade decked the anti-communist and he sprawled to the sidewalk. As he got up and went running for the cops, a crowd gathered to defend us. Many knew us and CHALLENGE and grabbed up all of our papers and leaflets. When the cops arrived the crowd sent them and the anti-communist away with loud taunts and chants.
Sadly soon after, Lee had to give up his teaching and public activities in the street. But for a number of years he visited tenants in his building, CHALLENGE in hand, with his cane and later with his wheelchair.
Lee was a devoted and loving husband and father. His wife in turn was his loving companion and caretaker in his extended period of illness. We remember many outings to the park with Lee, his children and ours. We remember festive occasions in his home. During good times and difficult times Lee’s humility, positive attitude and cheerfulness both calmed and energized us. Our hearts go out to his family.
Lee’s memory inspires us to be the kind of people and comrades that are necessary to fight for and establish a communist world. His optimism and confidence were rooted in his non-individualistic, collective approach to achieve our shared goal of an egalitarian society, based on struggle and change. He will always remain part of us as our struggle continues