Sidney Harman in 2007. Photograph by Matthew Worden.
Sidney Harman, the Newsweek chairman, entrepreneur, and local arts patron died in Washington Tuesday night, according to a statement from his family released by the Daily Beast.
Sidney Harman died last night of complications from acute myeloid leukemia at the young age of almost 93. 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. 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.
The business world will no doubt remember Harman as the founder of the massive Harman Industries audio empire, while the media industry will never forget his gutsy $1 purchase of Newsweek from the Washington Post Company last year. But here in Washington, the city he famously adored, his name is practically synonymous with arts patronage, a lifelong effort that culminated in the opening of the Harman Center for the Arts, the Penn Quarter home of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, in 2007. That achievement led Harman to be named aWashingtonian of the Year in 2007.
Here's what we wrote about Harman shortly after the arts center opened:
Sidney Harman Hall opened in October. The dazzling new space and Shakespeare’s Lansburgh Theatre now make up the Harman Center for the Arts.
Harman has given $19.5 million to make the new building possible—the last $5 million as a challenge grant that has been matched by other supporters.
Harman, a lover of jazz and classical music, also helped create partnerships between Shakespeare Theatre and other performing groups. The Washington Bach Consort, the Washington Performing Arts Society, and Ford’s Theatre have already used the stages at the Lansburgh and the Harman.
For Sidney Harman, the bricks and mortar have surpassed his aspirations. “Its location is sublime,” he says. “We’ll have multinational, multicultural, and multilingual young audiences. They can get here a dozen different ways.”
Harman is proud of the fact that there isn’t a bad seat in the house that bears his name. But he’d rather not sit too close to the stage. “I like to sit back far enough to get the full view,” he says. “When you’re too close, you run the risk of losing the enchantment.”
Harman's wife is Jane Harman, the former Democratic congresswoman from California.
Sidney Harman Dies at 92
Sidney Harman, the Newsweek chairman, entrepreneur, and local arts patron died in Washington Tuesday night, according to a statement from his family released by the Daily Beast.
The business world will no doubt remember Harman as the founder of the massive Harman Industries audio empire, while the media industry will never forget his gutsy $1 purchase of Newsweek from the Washington Post Company last year. But here in Washington, the city he famously adored, his name is practically synonymous with arts patronage, a lifelong effort that culminated in the opening of the Harman Center for the Arts, the Penn Quarter home of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, in 2007. That achievement led Harman to be named a Washingtonian of the Year in 2007.
Here's what we wrote about Harman shortly after the arts center opened:
Harman's wife is Jane Harman, the former Democratic congresswoman from California.
Editors' Picks
Is DC Being Too Mean to Louise Linton?
Which Washington-Area Neighborhoods Will Boom Next?
Why This Is the Golden Age of DC Grocery Shopping
The Ultimate Guide to DC’s Cherry Blossoms
Most Popular
May 2018: Jeff Bezos in D.C.
Subscribe
Related Posts
There Are Still Six Confederate Memorials Around DC. How’s That Possible?
“Investment Layoff” Is a Masterpiece of Corporate Euphemism
Secret Service: Man Claimed to Be Jesus and Plotted to Kidnap One of the Obamas’ Dogs
The New York Times Thinks Its Readers Should Visit CityCenterDC. We Agree!
More from News
What Do the French Think of Trump and Macron’s Bromance?
Here’s How Capital One Arena Transforms When Both the Capitals and the Wizards are in the Playoffs
This Innovative Suburb Once Seemed Like a Failure
I Lost My Phone and All My Photos (No, They Weren’t Backed Up). What I Learned Surprised Me.