GoFundMe page
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A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in honor of John Bryant Simon, a beloved advocate, mentor, and community builder who spent nearly 15 years calling the Upper West Side home.
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Simon, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 81, left a global legacy of youth empowerment and social justice. He founded The DOME Project (486 Amsterdam Avenue) in 1973 to help young New Yorkers who had fallen through the cracks of the traditional school system, later expanding his efforts to refugee youth in Finland and beyond. Whether coaching basketball, writing books, or organizing local festivals, his life’s work reflected a deep belief in every person’s potential and the power of inclusive community.
Google Maps (2019)
In tribute to that legacy, funds raised through the campaign will support Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council and the West Side Commons (696 Amsterdam Avenue)—two organizations closely linked with The DOME Project and aligned with Simon’s lifelong commitment to equity and opportunity. These nonprofits offer programs for underserved youth, affordable housing assistance, eviction prevention, academic enrichment, and more—all from their shared base of operations on Amsterdam Avenue.
While these organizations operate independently, their missions are deeply intertwined. The DOME Project runs programs like the College Access Initiative and Bridge to Success, aimed at helping students gain academic footing and navigate the justice system. Strycker’s Bay has served low-income UWS residents since 1959, supporting housing stability and offering education and after-school programming. Together with the West Side Commons—a collaborative initiative housed in the DeHostos Community Center—these groups serve as a safety net and springboard for the neighborhood’s most vulnerable youth.
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“These organizations reflect John’s values,” reads the campaign page. “Uplifting young people, fostering inclusion, and helping support the Upper West Side neighborhood he called home.”
The name “Strycker’s Bay” itself harkens back to the area’s early roots as a riverside settlement during the Revolutionary War era. While little remains of the inlet once accessed by ferry, the legacy of service tied to the name has endured—thanks in no small part to advocates like Simon.
John is survived by his wife Hannele, children Mikko and Elina, sister Patricia, and a far-reaching network of friends and former students whose lives he helped shape. Every donation made in his name helps ensure his mission continues: creating a world where all people are seen, heard, and supported.
To learn more or donate, visit the GoFundMe page.
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