January 7, 1998
Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens
(615) 322-2706
| |
January 7, 1998 Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens (615) 322-2706 |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Sidney Harshman, an internationally renowned microbiologist, whose career in research, teaching and administration spanned nearly 40 years at Vanderbilt University, died Dec. 25 at his home from complications of diabetes. Harshman, professor of microbiology and immunology, emeritus, was 67.
"He was the world's leading expert on staphylococcal alpha toxins," according to Conrad Wagner, professor of biochemistry at Vanderbilt and a close friend of Professor Harshman. "He also deeply cared for other people and was always eager to help his students and colleagues."
Harshman grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and attended Western Reserve University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry in 1950. He received a Doctor of Science degree in biochemistry from the Johns Hopkins University
School of Hygiene and Public Health in l959. That same year he began his career at Vanderbilt as an instructor. He served as Associate Dean of the Graduate School from l976 to 1981.
His work was published in numerous journals. He attended national and international conferences, including the Warsaw International Staphylococcal Conference and the Gordon Conference on Toxins.
He lectured at Dumont in Brussells and at UNESSCO in London. He served as editor for a volume on "Microbial Toxins" of "Methods in Enzymology." He, with his wife, Joan Schwartz Harshman, spent a sabbatical year in Paris, France, as Visiting Professor at the Pasteur Institute.
"Sidney was a scholar in the truest sense of the word and took almost childish delight in academic pursuits," said Jim Snapper, professor of medicine at Vanderbilt, and a neighbor of the Harshmans. He noted that Harshman was proud of his administrative work at Vanderbilt, where he chaired the Faculty Senate for two terms and served on numerous committees.
"He was a very upbeat person who always tried to encourage people beyond their limits, and he was a genuine colleague in the truest sense of the word," said John Hash, professor of microbiology and immunology, emeritus.
Harshman was remembered by his colleagues as being very close to his family. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters: Amy Green, Brentwood, Tenn.; Rachel Harshman, of Dublin, Ireland; one son, Dr. David L. Harshman, New Bern, North Carolina; and five grandchildren. He is survived by one brother, Dr. Morton L. Harshman, Cincinnati, Ohio; and two sisters, Ethel Sherman, Youngstown, Ohio; and Sarah Rosenzweig, Los Angeles, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vanderbilt University Graduate School, 411 Kirkland Hall, 37240; or to the Social Justice Committee of the Jewish Temple, 5015 Harding Road, 37205.
-VU-
Vanderbilt University is a private research university of approximately
5,900 undergraduates and 4,300 graduate and professional students. Founded
in 1873, the University comprises 10 schools, a public policy institute,
a distinguished medical center and The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center.
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education and human development, engineering and music, and a full range
of graduate and professional degrees.
For more news about Vanderbilt, visit the News and Public Affairs home page
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