Robert E. Simon, Jr. passed away on Sept. 21, 2015 at his home on Lake Anne Plaza. Bob was 101 years young and left a community that experienced his death as a shock despite his age. As community civic and nonprofit organizations began planning for Reston’s annual Founder’s Day event in 2016, it became evident that the scope and number of commemorative activities would expand. Thus Founder’s Day for 2016 has evolved into Founder’s Week. From Sunday, April 3 at Lake Anne Plaza, to Sunday, April 10 at Reston Town Center, and throughout the week at many locations throughout the community, we will remember our founder, his incredible life and the legacy he leaves -- community groups announced in a joint press release. Few people can claim to have established not just a “new town” but even more remarkably, a new way of living in the United States. Planned events will celebrate Bob’s vision, his love of the arts, the impact of his bold venture on land use in the United States and how his fervent desire to create a thriving community has been realized in Reston.
The Founder’s Week celebrations will give those who live, work and play in Reston a chance to reconnect with Bob and the spirit of his life.
As a participating organization, Reston Community Center has announced the Founder’s Week schedule of events. A Founder’s Week program will be distributed in the community in late March and is viewable online at RCC’s and other organizations’ websites. Additional information is available at www.restoncommunitycenter.com/foundersweek or by visiting participating organization’s websites.