Andrea Heinemann Simon

Andrea Heinemann Simon (née Heinemann; March 24, 1909 – February 15, 1994)^[2] was an American civil rights activist and the mother of singer Carly Simon.

Andrea Heinemann Simon
Born	Andrea Heinemann March 24, 1909 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 15, 1994(1994-02-15) (aged 84) Riverdale, Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupations	Activist philanthropist
Spouse	Richard L. Simon ​ ​ (m. 1934; died 1960)​ [1]
Children	4, including Joanna, Lucy and Carly
Relatives	Sally Taylor (granddaughter)

Life and career

Andrea Louise Heinemann was born and raised in Philadelphia, the second child of Ofelia "Elma Marie" (Oliete/Ollright), known as "Chibie", and Frederick Adolph "Fred" Heinemann.^[3] Her father was of German descent. Her mother was born in Cuba, and was of pardo heritage, a freed-slave descendant (the show Finding Your Roots has tested her daughter Carly's DNA as 10% African and 2% Indigenous).^[3][4][5]

Heinemann married Richard Leo Simon (March 6, 1899 – July 29, 1960), co-founder of the publishing company Simon & Schuster, on August 3, 1934.^[1] At the time of their engagement, Heinemann worked as a receptionist for the company.^[6] They had four children:

• Former opera Mezzo-soprano singer and New York real estate agent, Joanna Simon (1936–2022)
• Broadway score writer Lucy Simon (1940–2022)
• Singer-songwriter Carly Simon (born 1943)
• Nationally renowned photographer, Peter Simon (1947–2018)

The family resided in the Riverdale community of the Bronx.

Simon was actively involved in the civil rights movement and community work. This included serving on the board of directors of the Riverdale Mental Health Association for over 30 years and the Riverdale Chapter of the United Nations Association.^[7]

In 1994, Simon died of lung cancer at her Riverdale home at the age of 84.^[7]