Remembering Sid Topol (1924-2022)

It is with our deepest condolences that we share the passing of Sidney Topol, a longtime friend of Harvard University through the Topol Family Foundation’s support of numerous efforts for peace-making. May his memory be a blessing.

Hilary Rantisi, director of the Religion, Conflict, and Peace Initiative (RCPI) at the Religion and Public Life program, reflected on her 20-plus years of friendship with Topol: “Sid Topol held a lifelong deep commitment to principles of nonviolence and justice. He was relentless in his pursuit of a vision of nonviolence and wanting to change the world. Sid’s generosity over many years culminated in the creation in 2020 of a Topol Fellowship on Just Peacemaking and Nonviolent Activism to enrich RCPI’s work with peace and justice practitioners. We have been fortunate to work with four dedicated Topol Fellows since the creation of the fellowship.”

Diane Moore, faculty director of Religion and Public Life, said: “We know that Sid’s legacy will have a lasting impact in our work at Harvard Divinity School. We are grateful for the privilege of knowing and partnering with him in helping to realize his vision.”