Harrisburg – May 22, 2015 — State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) expressed his thoughts on the death of J. Matthew Simon of Point Breeze. Simon served as President of Point Park College from 1986 to 1995 and as a member of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority from 2005 until his death. Simon died on May 20:
“Matt was a successful and respected member of our Pittsburgh community. Throughout his long career in public service, he held many positions of distinction — lending his character and integrity to every project on which he worked.
“His commitment to education was evident through his work as president and department chair at Point Park. Matt spearheaded the effort to fund educational scholarships, making post-secondary education affordable and accessible for students. He made it his personal mission to help students achieve their dreams and his exemplary work will benefit students for years to come.
“In 2005, I was proud to recommend Matt to serve as a member of the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority. Matt served with distinction and shared the commitment and dedication of his fellow board members in trying to find solutions to difficult fiscal issues.
“Matt’s life’s work made meaningful contributions to helping organizations and communities all across Pennsylvania. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends. He was a role model and gentlemen whose service made Pittsburgh, and our region, a better place.”
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