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An industry leader, a visionary and a true Renaissance man
When speaking of Sidney Harman, who died last month at 92, executives from all types of consumer electronics companies found it hard to restrict their discussion to the usual tributes reserved for the industry pillars who built the foundations of this industry.
Perhaps it is because Harman, while he made his name in audio, lived a life much bigger than his brand.
Up to his last moment, Harman was in the midst ol his most publicized life adventure: running Newsweek magazine, which he had bought last year. But that was just the latest chapter in what Bob Weissburg, president of sales and marketing for the Americas at D&M Holdings, called a "storied career" that was tied but never limited to the electronics industry.
Industry executives remember Harmans love of words, of music and the arts; his philanthropy; his call to government service; and his willingness to share his experience and wide world view.
"I always considered him one of the founding fathers of the home audio business," Weissburg said. "He clearly was a tycoon in our industry who really catapulted the availability and popularity of what we used to call hi-fi. And there are people who, inspired by him, will want to keep the torch burning for great-sounding audio equipment."
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