Thom Harrow Obituary

Thom Harrow
Thom W. Harrow, age 70 of Norwalk, CT and Vero Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2022 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family and devoted English pointer, Ella.
Thom was born in Bronx, NY on March 9, 1952 to Max W. Harrow and Doris Kaplan Harrow. A proud graduate of Columbia University three times over, Thom earned his undergraduate degree in Art History and two master's degrees in Business and Architecture. Though a New Yorker to his core, Thom embraced New Canaan, CT for over 30 years before recently moving to Norwalk. It was in New Canaan that Thom met the love of his life, Kristen Duffy Harrow, to whom he was happily married for nearly 20 years.
After beginning a career in investment banking at Dillon Read, Thom co-founded the Public Finance Department at Morgan Stanley, where he is fondly remembered for his quick wit, sharp intelligence, and high energy level. The highlight of Thom's career was owning and operating APP Properties Inc., which sells aviation fuel to private aircraft and owns and operates nearly 800,000 square feet of aircraft hangars and related buildings. Above all, Thom was as passionate about his relationships with his employees as he was about the success of his company. He was a beloved boss who was both a friend and a mentor to the many who worked for and with him.
That Thom's two sons shared his passions and made careers out of those pursuits - Dan with Thom's company, APP Properties, and Alex with Thom's love of music - brought him great joy. Thom also loved old cars, particularly Ferraris. He enjoyed not only driving them on the backroads of Connecticut but also tinkering under the hood for hours on end. He was an excellent cook, avid reader, and lifelong Yankees fan, and he enjoyed quiet time in the woods reflecting on his philosophy of life. In his younger days, Thom's athletic pursuits included cycling and competing in triathlons. More recently he developed a passion for the sport of boxing and worked his way into the ring on more than one occasion, including a match at BB Kings in Manhattan. That fighting spirit carried him to the very end. Thom was a true warrior.
Thom was immensely proud of his Bronx roots and well respected for his honest, no-filter manner. He was passionate and informed about those things that interested him. And when he didn't like something or disagreed, Thom never held back. He was not afraid to stand up for what he believed. Thom loved Frank Sinatra, red wines, his time with his family and friends, taking Ella to the dog park, and debating philosophical points. He was a man of integrity. Thom's big laugh and his dedication to his family will be missed beyond measure.
Thom is survived by his beloved wife Kristen; his brother Robert Harrow of Eureka Springs, AR; his children Daniel Harrow and his wife Ariane and grandson Dashiell of Brooklyn, NY, and Alexander Harrow and his partner Jennifer Rosenberg of Rockaway Beach, NY; and his stepchildren Peter Webb Jr. of Norwalk, CT and Kendall Webb of Elon, North Carolina. Thom is predeceased by his parents Max Harrow and Doris Kaplan Harrow and brother Stefan Harrow.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to be announced by Thom's family and close friends this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations in Thom's honor to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are sincerely appreciated. Thom's family looks forward to seeing those whose lives he touched and to reminiscing on the good times they shared with Thom at his memorial.