SIDNEY KNAFEL

KNAFEL--Sidney R. Sidney R. Knafel, a major philanthropist in the fields of education, medical research, and the decorative arts, died on December 6 at home in Manhattan. He was 91 and died peacefully after a long illness, according to his wife, Londa Weisman. He was the leading American collector of 16th- to 18th - century French faience, a portion of which was exhibited at the Frick Collection in 2019. He was passionate about the collecting process, which he described as "the joyous unconflicted union of heart and mind," in the book he wrote with Charlotte Vignon, the Frick's decorative arts curator, entitled "The Masterpieces of French Faience: Selections From the Sidney R. Knafel Collection." About 73 works from the collection are to become a permanent part of the Frick's decorative arts holdings. He was a trustee of the Frick and sat on the Frick's Decorative Arts Visiting Committee since its formation. He also collected atlases, maps, and globes dating from 1434 into the 19th century, part of the Sidney R. Knafel Map Collection. Mr. Knafel donated this to the Addison Gallery at Phillips Academy Andover in 2011, along with funding a curator to make the works available to students and scholars. Mr. Knafel assembled the collection with a particular interest in ancient maps of Martha's Vineyard, where he had a home, and where he was intrigued by how the island and New England coastline must have struck explorers who arrived hundreds of years ago. A graduate of Phillips Academy Andover, Harvard University, and Harvard Business School, he served as Charter Trustee Emeritus of Phillips Academy and Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Addison Gallery of American Art. He also was an active participant on a number of Harvard University committees, including national cochair of the Harvard University Campaign and Chairman of the New York Major Gifts Committee of Harvard University. He was a major donor for the Center for Government and International Studies' Knafel Building, built in 2000, and the Knafel Center at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. "Sid was one of the early-- and great--supporters of the Radcliffe Institute and is among the University's most deeply engaged citizens," Harvard President Drew Faust said in 2013. "He is passionate about advancing Harvard, about supporting teaching and research, and about investing his resources wisely and well. I am pleased that one of our campus's beloved spaces will bear his name as a lasting acknowledgement of his thoughtfulness and generosity." He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Wellesley College, where he endowed the Susan R. Knafel Science School, in honor of his late wife. He was a Trustee Emeritus of The Julliard School, and also was Chairman of The Rogosin Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital's center for research, treatment, and education in kidney disease. Mr. Knafel was an investment banker and, later, an investor and entrepreneur. He worked at Lazard Freres before establishing his own private investment company, SRK Management, where he was founder and Chairman of Vision Communications, Inc. and Insight Communications Inc. A native of New York, he grew up in Mt. Vernon and served two years in the US Army in Germany. The years in Germany were formative--while there he explored central Europe in his VW, and learned about German wine and beer. He made enduring friendships with German and French families, which included some of those friends' children and grand-children. He is survived by his wife, Londa Weisman of North Bennington, VT and New York City; his sons, Doug Knafel of Stockbridge, MA., Andrew Knafel of Shaftsbury, VT (Anne Hunter); his grandson, Jamie Knafel of Bennington; his sister, Barbara K. Scherlis (the late Leonard Scherlis) of Baltimore; a beloved niece and many beloved nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was the brother of the late Helen Mae Askin (the late Seymour Askin), and the husband of the late Susan Rappaport Knafel. A private funeral and burial will be followed by a memorial, to be announced at a later date. We regret there will be no visitation due to COVID. Please leave remembrances at dignitymemorial.com. In lieu of flowers the family would welcome contributions to the Environmental Defense Fund.