We are saddened to announce the passing of Neil Harrow, an invaluable member of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center and longtime member of the DeWitt Clinton High School family. Neil passed away peacefully at the age of 87 after years of physical complications from various ailments. A Bronx native who spent his entire life in the borough, Neil attended PS 94, JHS 80, and DeWitt Clinton High School, from which he graduated in 1955. After Clinton, Neil pursued his undergraduate studies at the City College of New York, where he was the manager of the men’s basketball team, before earning his master’s degree in education from New York University. He had a lifelong love of sports. He was an avid baseball fan. Neil had his own version of the Strat-o-Matic baseball simulation game in which the rules were written out by hand. I still have it at home somewhere.  Neil began his decades-long tenure as a guidance counselor and college advisor at Clinton in the 1960s, where he was popular among the students and known for his humorous catchphrase, “How’s your blahhh?” After retiring from his post in 1994, he continued to work at Clinton as a substitute teacher until the completion of his career. For many years, Neil was also active in the DeWitt Clinton alumni association, lending his time and energy to promote the school he loved so much.

Away from his school duties, Neil volunteered his time to several community organizations in the Bronx, among them Project Hope, delivering food packages to the elderly of the community for various Jewish holidays, and was a dedicated and beloved member of several area synagogues, including most recently, the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center. Neil became the backbone of VCJC almost from the moment he became a member in 2012. Neil chaired several committees, including the Education and Outreach Committee. In this capacity, he arranged for speakers for our lecture series. He became Chairman of the Board after the passing of Lenny Stoller and took over as Gabbi from Arnold Geismer after he could no longer serve. Neil was such a Mensch that if he heard you had a cold, he would give you a call to see how you were. Everyone in the congregation probably got a call at some point.

 He is survived by his brother Richard Harrow, member of DeWitt Clinton Class of 1959, his nephew Jeremy Harrow, and niece Debbie Wiesel. A memorial event in honor of Neil’s life is being planned for early May at the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center. 

Authored by Jeremy Harrow and Stuart Harris, President VCJC