François Yves Simon

François Yves George Simon, of Olney, MD, passed away at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center on February 3,2026 surrounded by his family at the age of 79 after battling health complications.

François was born on May 24, 1946, in Beauvais, France in a newly liberated Europe. The son of two teachers; Yves Marie and Marthe Georgette Simon. He lived his youth in post-war Europe then moved to the United States in 1968. François started his life in the US in Cambridge, MD moving to Somersworth, NH, Cary, NC and finally to Olney, MD.

François started an upward career in electronics at Airpax, North American Phillips in Cambridge, MD in the 1970s. He moved to General Electric where he was responsible for a number of patents related to digital electric meters for commercial facilities.  He was introduced to the international technology business community through his work at IBM during the early 80’s technology boom at IEEE meetings relating to the original implementation of the 802.11 standard.  After his work at IBM, François was extremely proud to be a trusted contractor for the federal government of the United States through five consecutive administrations.  Among contracts with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture, François was especially proud of assisting the Department of Defense in the emergency deployment of advanced communication systems for the United States Air Force in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.  He continued to write several publications about technology and digital communications until his death.

In his personal life, François was an active participant in St. Peter’s Parish, his church in Olney, MD, as a teacher’s assistant in the school of religion.  He enjoyed golf, fishing, gardening, carpentry, and working on automotives.  Especially in later years, he could regularly be seen among members of the community in Olney.  He was passionate about ancient and modern history, the study of physics, philosophy, and geopolitics. 

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 45 years, Karen, his son, Philippe, and his daughter, Elise.  He is survived by his sister Anne Simon Daudré.

A service will be held for François at St. Peters Catholic Church in Olney MD, on Saturday, February 28, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM.  His family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent in François name to the Little Sisters of the Poor https://littlesistersofthepoorwashingtondc.org/donate/.

François was a great man, humble and kind. He was greatly loved and will be truly missed by his family and friends.

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