Sarah Lawrence College mourns the loss of Oscar-winning actor and activist Sidney Poitier, who served as a member of the Board of Trustees in the mid-1990s. Poitier passed away on January 7, 2022, at the age of 94. The beloved star was known for his stoic and charismatic performances in seminal films such as Lilies of the Field, In the Heat of the Night, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Sarah Lawrence bestowed Poitier with an honorary doctorate of humane letters at its 65th commencement in 1994, the same year his daughter graduated from the College. The rare honor was presented “in recognition of his talent and vision, his determination and sense of purpose and, above all, his leadership in the struggle for justice, freedom, and the rights of all human beings.”