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, August 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.”
His visionary philanthropy made possible the Tow Knight Center, a powerful catalyst for innovation and transformation in the media industry. Tow’s support also funded the prestigious PBS FRONTLINE Fellowship and criminal justice reporting initiatives, providing early and mid-career journalists with invaluable experience in investigative reporting and documentary storytelling. Additionally, his commitment to academic excellence helped support innovative faculty members, including the Tow Chair for Innovation in Journalism, who are pushing the boundaries of journalism education and practice.
Tow’s dedication to journalism education stemmed from his deep belief in education as a pathway to opportunity. Having built Century Communications from a dining room table business plan into the fifth-largest cable television company in the country, Tow understood both the power of media and the importance of ensuring that everyone can participate in shaping public discourse.
Before his philanthropic career, Tow earned a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. in economic geography from Columbia University and taught at institutions including Hunter College and Columbia Business School. His entrepreneurial spirit led him from academia to founding multiple successful companies, including Century Communications, Centennial Cellular, and Citizens Communications.
Beyond journalism education, The Tow Foundation supported medicine and the cultural arts. Tow was fundamental in efforts to make the CUNY School of Medicine, the only public medical school in Manhattan, an independent institution. Tow remained deeply connected to his alma mater, Brooklyn College, serving as a major donor and board member of the Brooklyn College Foundation.
Tow’s brilliance, humility, and unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with Tow’s family and the countless students, journalists, and educators whose lives and work he touched.