Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Leonard Tow

ALS United Greater New York mourns the recent passing of Dr. Leonard Tow, whose generosity and vision helped to transform the landscape of ALS research and care. It is with deep gratitude that we remember Len for his extraordinary commitment to the ALS community.

For Len, the fight against ALS was deeply personal. His wife, Claire, was diagnosed with ALS and bravely lived with the disease for 14 years before her passing in 2014. Together, Len and Claire became tireless advocates for care and research.

In 2006, ALS United awarded the Jacob K. Javits Lifetime Achievement Award to Claire and Len for their dedication and commitment to advancing ALS research and care. Len and the Tow Foundation would go on to support our efforts for the next two decades. Their generosity strengthened ALS programs, expanded services, and inspired others to join the effort.

Beyond his decades-long support of ALS United Greater New York, Len played a pivotal role in advancing ALS research across many leading institutions. Through The Tow Foundation, he helped launch the ALS Consortium, which connected scientists and clinicians across the globe. This collaboration through the New York Genome Center accelerated discovery, encouraged broad data sharing, and continues to shape progress in the field today.

In honor and memory of his wife Claire, Len established the Claire Tow Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease at Columbia, a world-leading center of research on ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Through the Tow Foundation, Len also supported the crucial work of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center, supporting both research and patient care.

Born in Brooklyn, Len built a remarkable career as both an educator and a successful entrepreneur, leading two major cable television companies before devoting himself to philanthropy. In 1988, he and Claire established The Tow Foundation, guided by their belief that success should be used to improve lives and create opportunity. Their giving extended across medical research, higher education, cultural institutions, and social justice reform.

Len’s compassion, vision, and generosity left an enduring impact on ALS United Greater New York and on the entire ALS research community. His legacy lives on in the discoveries he will continue to make possible and the countless families he touched.