Tulsa Businessman, Philanthropist Jack Zarrow Dies

Tulsan Jack Zarrow died early Thursday morning.

A businessman and philanthropist, Zarrow was born in 1925 and later joined his father and brother in the oil pipeline business after getting a petroleum engineering degree.

The Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, established by Zarrow in the early 1980s, has provided financial support for hundreds of Tulsa-area health, education and social welfare agencies. 

The list includes the Tulsa Mental Health Association, Gilcrease Museum, Day Center for the Homeless and the Tulsa Jewish Federation.

"Jack's approach to philanthropy was self-consciously old-fashioned; he felt that lofty goals could sometimes get in the way of simply responding to needs as they appeared.  He had a special place for those organizations which reach out to our community's least fortunate," said Bill Major, the foundation's executive director.

Zarrow is survived by his wife, Maxine, three children, four grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Services for Zarrow will be Sunday at 11 a.m. at Congregation B'nai Emunah at 17th and Peoria in Tulsa.

In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the charity of their choice.