Sidney J. Machtinger, a prominent lawyer and civic leader known for his extensive legal career and community service, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, at the age of 104.

Born in Kielce, Poland, to Jewish parents, Machtinger emigrated to Chicago in 1929 at the age of seven. Raised during the Great Depression, he later enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Serving as a navigator on a B-24 bomber, he flew 43 combat missions in the South Pacific and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in a perilous reconnaissance mission over Brunei Bay near Borneo in 1944.

Following World War II, Machtinger pursued higher education at Northwestern University, earning both his undergraduate and law degrees. During his studies, he was elected to the Northwestern University Law Review and joined the Order of the Coif, signaling academic distinction.

Machtinger began his legal career with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., before working for the Internal Revenue Service in both the Chief Counsel’s Office in Washington and the District Counsel’s Office in Los Angeles. He was a partner for more than five decades at the law firm Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger. There, he specialized in tax controversy, complex estate, gift, and tax matters, providing counsel to numerous clients and community members.

His professional achievements were recognized with several honors, including the Dana Latham Award from the Taxation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association in 2004 for lifetime achievement in taxation law. In 2008, the UCLA Extension Tax Controversy Institute presented him with the Bruce I. Hochman Award for his long-standing dedication to tax law.

Machtinger was deeply committed to community service. He served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, receiving the ACLU’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He also contributed to the Legal Advisory Committee of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and held a 30-year tenure on the Board of Directors of the Center for the Partially Sighted, serving three years as chairman. In 2011, the center honored him with its Lifetime Vision Award. Additionally, he served on the Board of Visitors to the UCLA School of Medicine.

Beyond his professional and civic commitments, Machtinger was an avid reader, a member of multiple book groups, and enjoyed activities such as playing bridge, watching baseball, and spending time with dogs. He maintained an active lifestyle through walking and exercise well into his centenarian years.

Machtinger was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Sylvia Machtinger; his brother, Norman; his first wife, Hilda (Zabin) Machtinger; and his second wife, Paula (Levine) Machtinger. He is survived by his companion, Debora Stein; five children—Steven, Barbara, Paula, John, and Edward; several grandchildren and a great-grandson; and other family members who remained close throughout his life.

Memorial contributions in Machtinger’s honor may be directed to the ACLU Foundation of Southern California or Leo Baeck Temple.