It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Leonard Tow, devoted philanthropist and longtime champion of journalism education, who died peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 10. He was 97.
Tow was a transformative figure whose generous support helped shape the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and advance the careers of countless journalists. Through The Tow Foundation, which he established with his beloved wife Claire in 1988, Tow invested deeply in innovative journalism education, cutting-edge research, and programs that expanded opportunities for emerging journalists and innovative journalism professors. As one of the school’s largest funders, the Foundation contributed more than $9 million to the school, making Tow’s vision for accessible, innovative journalism education a reality.
“Leonard Tow’s extraordinary generosity and vision have been fundamental to our mission of training new generations of outstanding journalists,” said Dean Graciela Mochkofsky. “He was an exceptional man — truly one of a kind. A dear friend of the school, he will be deeply missed.”
