Benjamin Arthur Simone was the second child of David and Kathleen Simone. He was the younger brother to Dawn Simone by nearly five years. Ben always did things in his own way, in his own time. The first indication came right at birth. He came out stretching, yawning, and looking around like he was too laid back to be concerned about breathing and didn’t until an oxygen mask was anxiously placed over his face. With the exception of asking “wassat” (what’s that) at 8 months, he felt no need to say anything else for the next 13. At 21 months, he started speaking in full sentences. His academic career followed the same pattern. Although always in gifted programs, he felt no need to study or turn in homework with the attitude of “I get A’s on my tests, I know what I’m doing, what do I need all of this other stuff for?” To Ben, C’s were acceptable and to the amazement of his parents and teachers, even in early primary grades, he calculated in his head exactly what efforts he had to make to get those C’s, even when his teachers thought he would fail. He knew everything there was to know about subjects that caught his interest but no amount of coaxing could make him move on others. Ben did not take grades seriously until family requirements of a ‘B’ average for driving privileges were taken to heart at age 15. At the University of South Florida, fun was more important than studying until he was put on probation. He took a semester off to find himself. He returned to USF, and after two full and two summer sessions, worked his GPA up to 3.5.

    Early on, Ben earned the nicknames of Smiley and Sunshine as he constantly charmed those around him with his gentle and sometimes absurd humor and ever present humanity and caring fronted by the most captivating smile you ever saw. In churches the family attended, his parents were always known first as “Ben’s parents”. However, until he was four, he also earned the nickname of Mister Destructo as he worked his way through his sister’s toys!

    It’s not clear whether it was a born trait or developed through early introduction to animals, but they were always a big priority with Ben. When he did start talking, he already knew the animals names, the sounds they made, and where they lived. The zoo or aquarium were his top choices of places to visit. As a toddler, he would stand by the fence for hours watching and petting the neighbors horse. When he was 3 1/2, he said he was going to be a veterinarian and work at zoos. That remained his goal through his first year at USF. The family dogs were never enough pets for Ben as he gathered various snakes, turtles, hamsters, exotic fish, etc.

    Ben’s interest in nature went beyond pets to a deep love of the outdoors. Hiking, camping, canoeing, and snorkeling were among his favorite pastimes. His adventurous nature encounters included lone explorations of underwater caves and wilderness hikes, including some time lost in a national forest. There also were the campouts in the company of wild boars and alligators. This, of course, scared his parents but just whetted his appetite for more. The “more” included a trip to Europe where he visited, among other places, Paris and Milan. He really delighted in seeing as much of the world as he could and greatly enjoyed travels with family and friends.

    Besides the physical activities surrounding his love of nature, Ben also loved organized sports. Early elementary school, he played Wildcat baseball every summer and one season of soccer. Living next door to a health club with an olympic sized pool, he also became a member of the Club Olympia competitive swim team. In middle school there was football and wrestling in high school. Neighborhood sports included skateboarding and street hockey. With street hockey, he started to play in the Brandon league, but during his first game, breaking up a fight between two friends on opposing teams left Ben with a broken ankle. He forbid mom from issuing her “break a leg” good wishes ever again!

    Ben always enjoyed the independence that came with earning his own money. From pre to early teens, Ben was a favorite dog watcher and neighborhood baby-sitter. He went on to service jobs starting with Mail Boxes Etc., through several restaurants, and ending at Red Lobster in Brandon. At each job Ben was a highly prized and skilled employee. Very frequently, at each job, being named employee of the month. He learned his jobs well, was a hard worker, and his pleasant personality was a natural for working with the public.

    Ben’s greatest gift to us was the love and caring he gave to his family and friends. He was counselor and protector to many, and had a knack of choosing friends well regardless of status or race. Ben was usually patient and sensitive, but had no tolerance for the intolerant. Whether we were family, co-workers, friends, or brothers of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, Ben was generous with his gift of making us feel very worthy, important, and loved.