Sidney Offit

October 13, 1928- October 3, 2026

Beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his sons, Kenneth (Emily Sonnenblick) and Michael (Dara Mitchell), five grandchildren Anna, Caroline, Lily, Tristan and Wyatt, and 8 great-grandchildren.

He was an author, teacher and television commentator and he published two novels, two memoirs and a dozen young adult novels. He fought for authors’ rights and recognition as co- Founder and President of the Authors’ Guild Foundation, and Curator of the George Polk Awards in Journalism. He also spent a decade as the voice of liberal New York in spirited live debates with conservative Dr. Martin Abend, televised on the WNEW Evening News. His greatest legacy was the many books published by aspiring authors who took his courses at The New School and New York University where he taught well into his eighties. He cherished his fellow members of the Century Association.

He was born in Baltimore, attended the Valley Forge Military Academy and Johns Hopkins University, and served in the US Army Reserve as an intelligence and transportation officer. He was to married Avodah Komito Offit, a physician and writer, for over half a century.

A Funeral Service will be held at Riverside Memorial Chapel, Gothic Chapel, 180 West 76th Street, New York, NY 10023, US, on October 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm, with a live stream available at https://www.legacycelebrated.com/sidney-offit/.

In lieu of flowers or gifts feel free to donate to the Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins:

https://secure.jhu.edu/form/givelibraries

On the dropdown please select "Other" and indicate "In memory of Sidney Offit"

Alternatively, you may send to

The Sheridan Libraries

Dean’s Office

3400 N. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21218

Checks can be made payable to: The Sheridan Libraries

Indicate at bottom "Sidney Offit papers"