Alina Simon, 18

Alina Victoria Simon, age 18, of Burbank, California, and formerly of Bryan, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, in Springfield, Ohio, where she was attending Wittenberg University as a freshman after finishing her high school education in just three years. In her time at Wittenberg, she loved the supportive and engaging people she met there–the students, faculty and staff. Alina was a passionate and accomplished writer who wrote, designed the cover of and published her own book, The Shuffler Saga: “Macki,” which can be found on Amazon.com. She was also an internationally recognized screen writer, receiving awards from the 2013 Hollywood Screenplay Contest Thriller Competition for her script “Shell” and was awarded Best Script (Student) at the 2013 Los Angeles Film and Script Festival, also for “Shell.” Additionally, she was a quarter finalist in “Fresh Voices,” one of the most prestigious competitions in the screenwriting industry that garnered her attention from several well-known producers in television and film. Her leadership ability had lead her to leadership roles in numerous service projects, including being chosen to go to Costa Rica to serve. Alina was proud to be called a beautiful geek, teaching herself Spanish, Russian and German, as well as being a musician who wrote music, enjoyed playing the cello and piano while being involved in orchestra, was an accomplished softball player in southern California. While living in Bryan, Alina was active in Bryan softball and especially loved being a part of the Bryan Swim Team. She was a warm-hearted kid who exhibited a team-first attitude and had a goal in life to help young people, continue to serve and, most of all, continue to write. To all she met she was inspiring, especially to young kids. One of the biggest compliments that was heard from many is that “she inspired me and made me want to achieve.”

Alina Victoria Simon was born on January 28, 1997, in Sacramento, California, the daughter of Troy J. and Denise L. (Gonzales) Simon. Survivors include her parents of Burbank; one brother, Mateo, of Burbank; her grandparents, Larry and Nikki Simon, of Bryan, and Sam and Jennie Gonzales, of Fresno, California; a great-grandmother, Ann M. St. Peter, of Mile City, Montana; her aunts and uncles, Leandra (Sean) Simon, of Bryan, Cori (David) Stuttard, of Columbus, Ohio, Carole (Phil) Romero, of Fresno, and Nicole (Gabriel) Howell, of San Francisco, California; and her ten cousins.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 23, 2015, from 4:00-8:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan. Services will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 1:00 P.M. in St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bryan, with Father James Halleron officiating. Interment will follow in Fountain Grove Cemetery, Bryan.

Memorials may be given by purchasing Alina’s book, The Shuffler Saga: “Macki,” from Amazon.com. All proceeds will be given to charity. A memorial fund in Alina’s name will be established at Wittenberg University to directly support the creative writing and screenwriting students of the Wittenberg University English Department. Donations may be sent to the Alina Simon Memorial Fund, c/o Wittenberg University, P.O. Box 720, Springfield, Ohio 45501.