Gary King

Gary King

Even when Sid wasn't well, he always had a nice nonconflictual way of adding insight to the conversation, and taught me new things every time we interacted. Sid had a deep understanding of politics, both at a scientific level and an intuitive level. I always marveled that when Sid was in the room at Harvard, everyone acted like adults. No one was capable of acting out when he was there. I don't know exactly how he was able to do that, but he defined the "adult in the room" without ever coming close to criticizing anyone. He didn't even have to look at you. He somehow just had a presence that make others act in ways that was in everyone's interests.

Sid was so special to so many people, to so many organizations, to so many groups, and to such a large part of the world that we will all forever be shaped by familiar echoes of Sid and his impact. I am proud to be constructed from many of those echoes myself.