Dr Eric Simons

Tribute to Dr. Eric Simon

It is with great sadness that I relay the passing of Dr. Eric Simon on March 30th 2020.  Eric was a pillar of INRC and one of the true founders of the society.  He gave the first “INRC Founders Lecture” in the 1999 meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York.  The title of Eric’s presentation was: “Personal Reflections about INRC and Opioid Research” and there was much to reflect upon, both with regard to Eric’s scientific contributions to understanding the opioid system, as well as his many contributions to INRC meetings and the greater neuroscience community. 

Eric was, of course, one of the key researchers to demonstrate the existence of specific binding sites for opioids in the early 1970’s.  Eric’s paper, along with papers from the Lars Terenius and Sol Snyder’s laboratories convinced the scientific community of the existence of an “opioid receptor”. This spurred the search for endogenous opioid ligands and the characterization of the genetics, pharmacology, proteomics and neuroanatomy of the opioid system that we now know and love. Eric was a scientific force in INRC well into his 80’s, where he attended many recent meetings and even presented his research – bravo!  We were all thrilled when he made an appearance at last year’s 50th INRC anniversary meeting and joined a panel of Founders Lecturers, at the tender age of 95.

Both Eric and his wife Irene were fervent supporters of INRC, and I do not remember being at an INRC meeting before 2015 where Eric was not present. Eric was President of INRC from 1980-1983, serving after Avram Goldstein and Sid Archer.  He coined the name International Narcotics Research Conference in 1973 and the term endorphin in 1975.  Eric and Irene served as Treasurers from 1998 to 2005. 

Eric’s favorite meeting place was Seacrest, a beachfront hotel he loved on the Cape Cod just outside of Boston.  Quoting his daughter Faye, Eric had a zest for life or "joie de vivre" beyond anyone we knew and I would certainly echo this sentiment.   Pictures of Eric in Japan and France at INRC meetings emanate this “joie de vivre”.  Eric was most certainly a man who loved life and translated this to the INRC community. He will be remembered as a generous man, interested in the “big picture” and shedding the pettiness of life to see the big picture thrive. 

Eric’s love of the “big picture” was the inspiration for the creation of the Irene & Eric Simon (IES) Brain Research Foundation.  The foundation supports the next generation of researchers in neuroscience.  Eric always looked far beyond himself and this foundation is the embodiment of his love for neuroscience and supporting the young generation to continue exploration of the brain.  I will personally be remembering Eric by donating to the foundation ( http://www.iesbrainresearch.org/).

So, thank you Eric, thank you for your generative spirit and the science that has moved the opioid field forward to where we are today.

Dr. Chris Evans and the INRC executive Committee