Simon David Brandt ’55

David, who spent 30 years on the New Jersey State Board of Education (four as president), and loved travel, the theater, and the Philadelphia Eagles, died Aug. 24, 2024. He was born Oct. 8, 1934, in Philadelphia. In junior high school he failed one class just for the fun of raising his grade to an A in the next semester. His parents had enough of that and sent David to the Peddie School.

At Princeton, he joined Key and Seal, majored in economics and the American Civilization Program, was on the governing council of Whig-Clio, and was freshman basketball manager and director of the Speakers Bureau. His senior-year roommates were Stan Nolan, Norman Greenberg, and Michael Kern. After Princeton, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and served in the Army during the Korean War.

David formed a law firm with four close friends and while on the State Board of Education worked to expand opportunities for people to become public school teachers. He was also a strong advocate for sex education long before it was a standard part of the school curriculum. His guiding principle was the welfare of students — often saying, “If it’s not good for the kids, we’re not going to do it.” His law firm was known for the groundbreaking Mount Laurel II case, which paved the way for New Jersey municipalities to support low-cost and affordable housing. The passion for travel of David and his wife, Patsy, hit a high mark in 1984 when the entire family toured Asia for six weeks.

Sports were a solid interest. Along with a friend, David created an Atlantic League baseball team, the Camden Riversharks, aiming to revive his hometown. For decades he was a fervent holder of season tickets to Eagles games, his loyalty rewarded in 2018 when the Eagles won the Super Bowl, beating Tom Brady’s New England Patriots, 41-33, with the MVP award going to quarterback Nick Foles, who was David’s neighbor.

David was predeceased by Patsy. He is survived by daughters Allison ’88, and Lauren ’93, son Andrew, and four grandchildren.