Tobyanne Tarlow Sidman

Tobyanne Tarlow Sidman, 85, was born July 6, 1941 in Lynn, Massachusetts. She was laid to rest at a private service in the Temple Sinai section of Arlington Memorial Cemetery on September 8, 2026.

Toby married her husband of 63 years, Arnold, on June 9, 1963, at a synagogue in Salem, Massachusetts, just four days following her graduation from George Washington University. She became a teacher at the Margaret Brent Elementary School in Greenbelt, Maryland, which had been established for the children of NASA scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center. She resigned from that institution in 1966 ito create her family and commence her calling as a Jewish community organizer.

Toby had discovered her calling in Washington through involvement with children with developmental disabilities, but her leadership capacities became evident when she created a Hadassah chapter in Greenbelt. In 1968, she moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she became a Swiss Army knife for Temple Emanuel, and a big fish in the small pond of Winston-Salem.

Her move to Sandy Springs in September, 1987, though challenging, created numerous opportunities for her. Over the years, she became involved with numerous institutions, including The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the American Jewish Committee, The Davis Academy, The Weber school, The Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, and Jewish Family & Career Services. Her prodigious fundraising capacities were acknowledged by all and appreciated by most. Her efforts were recognized by the Federation in 1990 with the Gerald H. Cohen Community Development Award and by The American Jewish committee in 2000 with the Selig Distinguished Service Award.

Sadly, not all opportunities were uplifting. The most devastating occurred in February, 1989, when Toby was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer, which became metastatic around the time COVID-19 showed up in December 2019. True to her stoic mindset, if you did not know of her ailment, you did not learn of it from her. At the same time, in view of her indomitable spirit, she became determined to conquer this disease. To this end, she cofounded the George Breast Cancer Coalition Fund (which fought well above its weight due to Newt Gingrich's elevation) to seek federal funding, was appointed to the Georgia Health Strategies Council by Governor Roy Barnes in 2002, and participated on numerous other similar organizations. In 2023, she was acknowledged by Georgia CORE as a “Trailblazer” for her survivorship activities. 

At the same time, Toby volunteered as a supporter of public schools in Sandy Springs (including service at the Lake Forest Elementary School for 10 years) and traveled internationally -- including 11 trips to Israel --  in support of her priorities.

Her family was the most important aspect of her life. In addition to Arnold, she is survived by her sons, Eric (Nicole) and Steven (Lauren); her grandchildren: Sophie (Adam); Charlie; Emma (Connor) and Olivia; and sisters Arlene (Michael) and Sharon. Her reciprocated love affair with Arnold exemplifies at least the proposition that true love can thrive in the presence of political dysfunction.

A memorial service to mark the rich significance of her life will take place at Temple Sinai at a date and time to be determined.