- Born on: May 18, 1927
- Departed on: November 11, 2021
- Resided in: Iowa City, IA
Harlan Lewis Sifford
A man without equal, I will never know another like him. Smart, witty, kind and loving. I miss him. He was always so kind to me and I loved him. My brother Steven and Harlan were a match unparalleled. A long and amazing life, lived with enthusiasm and grace.
There is a hole in my heart. It is there because one of the kindest and most thoughtful men I have ever known has passed. The hole will always be there. But it is not empty. It is filled with memories of Harlan: his generosity, his humor and how he always made me feel special and how my life is oh so much richer because I was lucky enough to know him. I miss him now and I will miss him in the future. I am sure that in coming days there will be triggers that remind me of him; a New Yorker magazine cover; a piece of crystal in the sun, casting rainbows; a simple cup of coffee (hand ground) that turns into a chat with a friend on a cool spring morning in a garden. Along with the pangs of loss that these memories will bring they will each be accompanied by a deep bow of gratitude that Harlan was part of my life.
With the loss of this irreplaceable, brilliant, sensitive, kind, and classy man, Iowa City will never, ever be the same.
Harlan... he will always live in my mind, with his deceptively dour expression, hiding an exceptionally kind heart and an extraordinarily bright consciousness. Keith and I send our heart-felt sympathies to Steven and all the friends they have blessed with their lives.
Harlan was my Godfather, and so much more. When I was young he treated me as a beloved nephew, and he treated me with respect at a time when very few did. He was a brilliant, artistic, kind, wise, and classy male role model when I desperately needed one in my life. I still have fond memories of going with him to Things & Things as a child, and being allowed to pick out my own gift. Later, he was always a good, good friend and advisor. His house was always full of light and love (and glass). I love Harlan and will miss him always. My loving condolences to Steven.
Harlan Sifford was a finely educated wonderful southern gentleman, thoughtful, gracious and generous in every circumstance. During the years I worked under him at the University of Iowa Art Department library I grew to admire him greatly, and was proud to call him my friend. His house was a jewel box of judiciously selected fine art objects, some of which, the crystal ones, would throw rainbows out his front window as you approached his door. I now have a big long cut crystal bobech hanging by my front door in his memory. I will always miss him.