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SIDNEY STARK Obituary
Age 56, of Alexandria, VA, son of Sidney Stark, Jr. and the late Shirley Stark of Squirrel Hill; brother of Seth T. Stark (Sharon); uncle of May Stark; and great-uncle of Yofi Stark, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, while visiting a college friend in Wycliffe Lake, NJ. Sid grew up in Squirrel Hill and was a 1977 graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School, where he was a national merit semi-finalist and editor of the sports section of The Foreward, the high school paper. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981, and later earned his Master's of Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Sid worked in the family emergency medical business for 15 years before beginning his career in education. Sid was a charismatic teacher who taught Drama and English to middle and high school students for Prince George's County Maryland Public Schools. His students remember that his love of Shakespeare was infectious and many were introduced for the first time to the classics through his teachings. An avid nature lover and outdoorsman, his idea of a perfect vacation was to canoe and camp in the great outdoors, including a 45-day canoe trip in the Northwest Territories. Two of his other great passions in life were contained in his email moniker: kinglear21 which merges the bard's tragic king with the epic Roberto Clemente. He loved the Grateful Dead and followed them almost as much as he followed the Wild Rivers. A lover of gourmet food and local cuisine, he was as proud to be a satisfied customer of Paris 66 as he was of Mineo's Pizza on Murray Avenue. After leaving teaching, he worked for Booz Allen, a government contractor, for five years, and most recently returned to education and taught English at the ITT Technological Institute. He was ebullient, kind, fun-loving and inspiring to both the psyche and the intellect. A man of varied talents and interests, he could cite sports statistics as easily as he could discuss political history or converse in French. Contributions may be made to American Shakespeare Center, 20 S. New St., 4th Floor, Staunton, VA 24401, or the Sierra Club, www.sierraclub.org. There will be no funeral. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
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Mimi. Meltzer
January 26, 2021
The meltzer family in Rockville md remembers Sidney with love & hugs. He was a great friend to all of us & we miss him every day. We send our thoughts to his family & remember him as a great friend. Everytime we drive by the building where he worked near our house we remember him then too. He was a great fellow. We will always remember him.
Bruce Reingold
January 25, 2021
Sid was such a lovely person and so full of life. He had many interests and he pursued them passionately. He is in our hearts all the time.
David Gray
January 27, 2019
I did not get to know him when I had a chance - when we shared a few classes in high school. I got to know him a little bit 30 years later at our HS reunion. Had we resided in the same city, I think that we would have become pretty good friends, in part because we were both educators.
Mimi Meltzer
January 25, 2019
Miss Sid. Hes with his good friend Joe. Every time I drive by the building where he worked in Rockvilke md. I think
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Carol Nathenson
May 16, 2016
To Sidney and Seth,
So very sorry to learn of the passing of your dear son and brother. We have so much history with your family from back to Wightman School days.
My deepest condolences.
Fondly,
Carol Feldman Goldblum Nathenson
Hilary Sandler
May 14, 2016
It was with great sadness to read of Sid's passing. He had been on my mind very strongly recently and then I opened my Gazette (which I hadn't opened for months!) only to see his name. Sid was my best friend at Penn. We did so much together including our Shakespeare class, listening to music (The Dead, of course, though other artists occasionally slipped in) and talking about everything. He loved his Steelers and cared deeply about those close to him. He drove through an incredible snow storm just to make a visit with me at grad school. I hope his family will take some solace in that Sid spread love wherever he went. He obviously left a lasting imprint on many people whom he met in life. We are certainly poorer having lost Sid but Heaven is very lucky!
Mimi Meltzer
March 26, 2016
So sad & heartbroken to learn of Sid's sudden passing. He was a good friend to us all & he will be missed a lot He came to our home in Rockville many times to visit & spend holidays with us. He loved camping in the summer. He was a great friend & will be missed a lot. Much sympathy to his family. The Meltzer & Swearengin families
Ed Serbin
February 21, 2016
Bo was a great guy and a good man.
Steven
February 8, 2016
My condolences to the entire Stark family for this tragic loss. On a personal level I can't tell you how sad and devestated I was to learn of his untimely passing. Also being from Pittsburgh me and Sid became great friends during the late 1980s and early 1990s when we lived a block apart from each other in Chicago. For years we got together every Sunday morning for brunch before walking to the local "Pittsburgh Steelers" bar on Clark Street. We attended concerts together including several Grateful Dead shows. Sid was one of the smartest likable people I have ever met. The world will be a smaller place without him.
David & Ann Wilkins
February 5, 2016
Our condolences to the Stark family. We didn't know Sidney the third, but reading his obituary made it clear that he inherited the love of life, the great sense of humor, and the ability to connect with people that characterized his dad, Sidney Jr, and his mother, the great Shirley Stark.
February 3, 2016
My prayers to family. You will be missed!
RIP
Ms. Belton
Cynthia Augustus
February 3, 2016
My sincerest condolences to the Stark family. He was passionate about the students and worked tirelessly to make sure all had an equal opportunity. I worked with Sid at Laurel High School.
Gerri Graves
February 3, 2016
My heartfelt sympathy to the Stark family. Sid was the dearest, kindest man. I will miss him always. His stories were full of life, intelligence, and laughter. We shared a love of family, Shakespeare, the outdoors, and drama.
Kim Durkin
February 3, 2016
My deepest condolences to the Stark family. I worked with Sid briefly at Booz Allen. In that short time, I remember his smile, love for all things Pittsburgh (especially the Steelers), and his passion for literature and Shakespeare. I am lucky to have met such a kind person who lived such a full life.
Bill Burfield
February 1, 2016
My deepest sympathies to the Stark family. Worked with him and his dad for a while, and got to be friends. Glad that he was able to get into teaching, which he really wanted to do. [email protected]
February 1, 2016
bo was a good dude.he always had a laugh and a smile.his life should be an example for us all.bo`s work in baltimore was a mitzvah. say hey to j.l. bdc
February 1, 2016
Sid was a lifelong friend who always provided insight, humor and camaraderie. He had a heart of gold, the type of person who lit up the room. Sid was full of enthusiasm and wisdom which he no doubt learned from his two wonderful parents, Shirley and Sidney. He was passionate about so many aspects of life. He didn't view life as half full or half empty, Sid viewed his glass as overflowing. He was able to impact many, many teenagers as their English and Drama teacher and as their friend. Knowing Sid was such a blessing in my life.
David Gray
February 1, 2016
I am very sorry about this tragic event. Over the past two years or so, I was in contact from time to time with Sid via FB for three reasons. First, we both faced life-threatening medical conditions, although I thought that he was on the mend, at least for a while. Second, we were both born teachers, although he made the discovery at a later time than I do. Third, in 2007 our high school class held a 30-year reunion, and he received me in a very warm and open fashion, after a hiatus of 30 years without any contact.
January 31, 2016
Dear Seth: I was very saddened to read of the passing of your brother. Please accept my condolences on your loss. - Jeff Pollock, Esq., Sq. Hill
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