Simone Mola

Simone Mola, age 96, of Saline, Michigan, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2025. Simone was born in Mola di Bari, Italy.

Simone shared 68 years of marriage with his wife Luci (née Anichini). He was the proud father of Lori (Terry) Compagner and John (Roy Sexton) Mola, and a cherished grandfather (“Nonno”) to Gabby (Avery) Confer and Andrew (Fan Meng – fiancée) Rundall. He was also a dear brother of six.

Simone immigrated to the United States from Italy in the late 1940s, first settling in Chicago. He worked his way through college at the Illinois Institute of Technology, supporting himself through jobs in construction and the applied trades. After earning his undergraduate degree, he met and married Luci Anichini, and together they began a new chapter in Michigan.

Simone went on to build a distinguished career in the auto industry, with early roles at Studebaker Packard and Buick. The couple eventually settled in the Flint/Grand Blanc area, where Simone pursued graduate and doctoral studies in engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

After his tenure at Buick, Simone transitioned into academia, accepting a faculty position at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) where he served as a full professor for nearly 30 years. His work in automotive suspension design was published in multiple textbooks and remains foundational in the field to this day. Simone guided generations of engineering students many of whom went on to lead and innovate in the automotive industry.

Simone and Luci raised two accomplished children, Lori and John, who followed in their father’s footsteps. Like Simone, both graduated from the University of Michigan and became automotive engineers. Go Blue!

Simone was an avid gardener, wine maker, cat lover, and Andrea Bocelli fan. He was intelligent, introspective, and analytical in nature. This was offset by Luci’s passion for the arts, for creating beautiful spaces as a successful interior designer, and for connecting through conversation with everyone she meets.

Visitation and Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Holy Name Cedar Lake Catholic Church, 11000 W. 133rd, Cedar Lake, IN. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. CST, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. CST. Interment will take place at Holy Name Cemetery, directly behind the church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Simone’s name to Adopt A Pet of Fenton, Michigan: https://www.adoptapetfenton.com/. Arrangements entrusted to Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel and Crematory- Cedar Lake, IN. 219-374-9300