Walter Simon (30 April 1857 – 1 April 1920) was a German
banker,
councillor and
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
active in
Königsberg and
Tübingen.
Life
Simon, the second son of Königsberg banker Moritz Simon and Hedwig Simon, attended
Altstadt Gymnasium Altstadt Gymnasium
Altstadt Gymnasium (german: Altstädtisches Gymnasium) was a German secondary school in the Altstadt quarter of Königsberg, Germany.
History
A parochial school () was established ca. 1333Albinus, p. 21 or 1335Wiese, p. 150 by ...
as a youth and then studied law, medicine, and philosophy at the
University of Tübingen and the Albertina, the
University of Königsberg. After graduation he worked as a banker in his native Königsberg. Until 1 April 1901 he was also a city councillor, focusing on relief for the poor and public education.
Simon received an honorary professorship from the Albertina in 1899 and was accorded a ''
Geheime Kommerzienrat'' (privy commerce councilor) of the
German Empire
The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...
. Simon was also named an honorary citizen of Königsberg in 1908, during the centennial of the 1808
reforming ''
Städteordnung'' of
Stein. Simon died at his home on Copernicusstraße in
Neuroßgarten Neurossgarten (german: Neuroßgarten) was a quarter of northwestern Königsberg, Germany. Its territory is now part of Kaliningrad, Russia.
History
The name ''Neuroßgarten'' means "new horse pasture" in German, with the eastern Königsberg suburb ...
in 1920.
Philanthropy
Königsberg
In 1892 Simon granted 6.83 hectares in
Mittelhufen for the construction of the athletic field Walter-Simon-Platz, which hosted
Königsberger STV in the early 20th century. Renamed
Erich-Koch-Platz during
Nazi Germany because Simon was
Jewish, the field is now
Baltika Stadium in
Kaliningrad,
Russia. In 1894 Simon sponsored a public bath with free instruction for schoolchildren along the
Oberteich. He donated funds for books and construction of the
Luisenkirche in
Amalienau, the Farenheid Poorhouse in
Hinterroßgarten, and the
Bismarck Memorial at
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz.
Tübingen
Simon founded the Dr. Walter-Simon-Stiftung für Tübinger Weingärtner, an endowment for Tübingen winemakers, in 1890. He also established an endowment for female university students in 1907. He donated further funds in 1932 after his initial endowment was diminished through
inflation. In 1912 Simon started an endowment for petty bourgeoisie couples, especially brides. Additionally, he donated to the Uhlandbad indoor swimming pool. The street Walter-Simon-Straße in Tübingen is named in his honor.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, Walter
1857 births
1920 deaths
19th-century German politicians
20th-century German politicians
German bankers
19th-century German Jews
German philanthropists
Politicians from Königsberg
Businesspeople from Königsberg
People from the Province of Prussia
People from Tübingen
University of Tübingen alumni
University of Königsberg alumni
Academic staff of the University of Königsberg