Sidney Harman, Industry Icon, Dies at 92

[mr2channel]

One of the industry greats...

<H3>TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 4/13/2011





Washington, D.C. - Sidney Harman, longtime industry legend and founder of Harman Industries, died, here, last night of complications from acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 92.

Announced earlier today by The Daily Beast, the online news operation that merged with Newsweek, which he purchased last year, in a family statement it was said that Harman died "at the young age of almost 93," and first learned of the illness a month ago.

Harman was executive chairman of Newsweek, and chairman of the Academy for Polymathic Study at the University of Southern California. Funeral arrangements will be private. Celebrations of Harman's life will be held both in Washington and Los Angeles, at dates still to be determined, according to the family statement.

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[Greg_C]

Damn, sad to hear that.

[BMaxey]

I can only hope I have as much energy at age 91. RIP Sidney.

[AudibleSolutions]

What does that mean for Newsweek/Daily Beast? Is the family going to continue supporting a losing operation? Harmon was going to give it 3 years.

Alan

[Fastfred]

I sold Harman back in the late 70's, and my dad sold Harman back in the 60's.

So long to a pioneer in the industry, but also to someone who was willing to serve his country.

[2ndRick]

I will be firing up my vintage H/K rig and playing some records in honor of the man who developed the first stereo receiver.

The NY Times did a great piece on him as well.

[AHEM]

Kardon on the other hand, gets zero respect. He's like Sipe.

Harmon Sipe

[tomciara]

I sold Harman back in the late 70's, and my dad sold Harman back in the 60's.

So long to a pioneer in the industry, but also to someone who was willing to serve his country.

Repaired lots of 330 receivers!

[2ndRick]

Kardon on the other hand, gets zero respect. He's like Sipe.

Harmon Sipe

Mr. Harman and Bernard Kardon, Bogen’s chief engineer, quit their jobs in 1953, put up $5,000 each and founded Harman/Kardon. It produced the first integrated hi-fi receiver, the Festival D1000.

It was hugely successful, and by 1956 the company was worth $600,000. Mr. Kardon retired

$600,000 was probably a small fortune in the late 50s...

Sidney Harmon's personal fortune was estimated by Forbes to be around $500 million. Which is a LARGE fortune by anyone's measure.