Sidney Offit

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Sidney Offit (October 13, 1928 – October 3, 2026) was an American writer best known for his contributions to civic and literary life in New York City. Offit, who found a broad readership with his children's books, served at different times as President of the Authors Guild Foundation, President of the Century Association, board member of PEN American Center, and curator of the George Polk Awards in Journalism. After his death in 2026, he was remembered by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Robert Caro as “the central figure in the world of writers in New York for 40 years.” As a fixture of the New York literary scene during the latter half of the 20th century, Offit befriended many of the era's most-celebrated writers, including Ralph Ellison, Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut regarded Offit as his best friend and included him at the "clambake" in his semi-autobiographical novel Timequake. After Vonnegut's death, Offit reminisced about their close friendship in various fora, and edited...

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