[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING SIDNEY HARMAN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it was with great sadness that I first 
received word of the passing of a remarkable man and friend, Sidney 
Harman. Sidney Harman led a life of passion and commitment, the kind of 
existence that most of us aspire to. His interests were vast and varied 
and his sense of possibility unparalleled. With business acumen equal 
to his mastery of the sciences and his love of the arts, Sidney 
embraced challenges and faced life head on.
  I had the pleasure of knowing Sidney throughout his career as a 
businessman, entrepreneur, public servant, and philanthropist. He left 
his distinctive mark on every project he involved himself with and 
brought his progressive ideas to bear at a critical time in our 
nation's history. His ability to innovate never waned, creative 
solutions were a forte of his and he applied them with confidence. His 
most recent endeavor, to purchase Newsweek and merge it with the online 
publication the Daily Beast less than a year ago, was initially met 
with trepidation by print news professionals but has since led to 
growth for both publications, a typical outcome for a venture 
championed by Sidney.
  Sidney's commitment to the betterment of young lives and society as a 
whole was evident in his philanthropic pursuits and his involvement 
with institutions of higher education. In recent years he taught 
classes in medicine, law, economics, and various other disciplines at 
the college level. Over the course of his life he supported educational 
organizations with generous donations. He understood that education is 
the foundation of a prosperous society and that the enlightenment of 
young minds is crucial to the success of a nation such as ours.
  Along with his wife Jane, Sidney made a home and life here in 
Washington, DC, and devoted himself to the city and its legacy. A 
generous supporter of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Folger 
Shakespeare Library and the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney had a 
significant impact on the vibrant cultural and artistic scene in the 
Nation's Capital.
  My greatest sympathies are with Jane, his children Barbara, Daniel, 
and Justine, and all of Sidney's extended family. Sidney touched the 
lives of many and there is no doubt he will be long-remembered for his 
innovative mind, his good humor, his energetic outlook, and his years 
of service.

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