Sidney Harman remembered as polymath and philanthropist

Sidney Harman, the husband of former South Bay Congressional Representative Jane Harman, died Tuesday evening at the age of 92.

Newsweek magazine, which Harman bought last year, described him as a “philanthropist, triumphant entrepreneur, government servant, and steward of journalism…  A polymath himself, he founded the Academy for Polymathic Study at USC, where he lectured in more than a dozen academic departments. ‘I was a smash in the department of gerontology,’ he liked to joke.
Harman made his initial fortune in the 1950s as co-founder of Harman Kardon Stereo.

According to a statement released by his family, “Harman died of complications from acute myeloid leukemia. He first learned of his illness one month ago and remained vigorously engaged as Executive Chairman of Newsweek, and Chairman of the Academy for Polymathic Study at the University of Southern California. He died in Washington, D.C., a city he loved and supported in so many ways, surrounded by his wife and children.”

Harman was well known for regaling friends with recitations of poetry, prompting South Bay State Senator Ted Lieu to observe, on learning of Harman’s passing, “I was fond of listening to Sidney recite lengthy passages from Abraham Lincoln and Shakespeare from memory. Today I am reminded of one of Lincoln’s quotes:  ‘And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.’  Sidney had a great measure of both, and we will all miss him dearly.”

Funeral arrangements will be private. Celebrations of Sidney’s extraordinary life will be held both in Washington and Los Angeles, at dates still to be determined.

Sidney Harman is survived by his wife Jane Harman, children Lynn, Gina, Barbara, Paul, Daniel, Justine, and two step-children, Brian and Hilary. ER