SIMON was named for SIMON V. WEISER, who paid the ultimate price in the attack on America September 11, 2001. Simon V. Weiser, 65, New York, New York, lost his life where he worked on the 64th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Mr. Weiser worked in power distribution engineering for the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York. A fancier of medieval history, Mr. Weiser built 40 fully functioning crossbows, patenting most of them. An intelligent man, Mr. Weiser was born in the Ukraine and sought a long time the opportunity to leave. He went to Israel and eventually (in 1978) the United States. He was also an inventor. Interestingly, his son found in Mr. Weiser's papers after his death an idea to keep hijackers on the ground. Mr. Weiser is survived by his wife; son, Anatoly; and five grandchildren. We salute Mr. Weiser, a hero, and name this handsome kitty in his honor.

(Source: The New York Times 12/22/01)