Sidney Offit, a prominent figure in the New York literary community and longtime advocate for writers and journalists, died on October 3 in Manhattan at the age of 97. His passing was confirmed by his son, Kenneth Offit.
Born on October 13, 1928, in Baltimore, Offit was the son of Barney Offit, a well-known bookmaker in Maryland, and Lillian Cohen Offit. He attended Valley Forge Military Academy, where he crossed paths with future playwright Edward Albee. He later studied at Johns Hopkins University, where he contributed to the student newspaper.
Offit authored more than a dozen books, including two novels and two memoirs, notably “Memoir of the Bookie’s Son” (1995), which recounted his early life and his father’s dramatic encounter with kidnappers. His memoirs and other writings reflected both personal history and his deep engagement with the literary world.
Over a career spanning several decades, Offit became a respected supporter and mentor to many writers. Robert A. Caro, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Lyndon B. Johnson, described him as “the central figure in the world of writers in New York for 40 years,” noting Offit’s role in providing encouragement and practical assistance to fellow authors. Offit helped Caro find workspace and offered ongoing moral support throughout his projects.
Offit was a founding member and longtime president of the Authors Guild Foundation, the educational and charitable wing of the Authors Guild. He also served as a vice president of the PEN American Center. From 1972 until 2009, he acted as curator of the George Polk Awards, which honor reporters and photographers for outstanding investigative and original journalism, under the administration of Long Island University.
In addition to his literary and administrative work, Offit was a familiar presence on New York television during the 1970s and 1980s. He appeared regularly on WNEW-TV’s “The 10 O’Clock News” in a debate segment modeled after “60 Minutes”’s “Point/Counterpoint,” where he was known for his trademark bow tie and engaging commentary. His frequent sparring partner was Martin Abend, a conservative commentator.
Offit also maintained a close friendship with author Kurt Vonnegut. He edited a four-volume Library of America collection of Vonnegut’s novels and short stories published posthumously and wrote the foreword for Vonnegut’s “Look at the Birdie” (2009), a compilation of previously unpublished stories. Vonnegut included Offit in his 1997 semi-autobiographical novel, “Timequake.”
Offit’s early years in New York included connections with notable cultural figures such as Joe Franklin, a pioneering talk-show host. Through Franklin, Offit’s social circle expanded, and he eventually met his wife, Avodah Komito, with whom he eloped in 1952.
Alongside his literary pursuits, Offit taught writing at The New School and New York University, contributing to the development of future generations of writers. His lasting legacy is marked by his dedication to fostering the literary arts and his role as a champion of writers’ rights and recognition.