Edward S. Farrow 1898-1962
In January, 1962, in my senior year at Rochester, my Sigma Chi brothers honored me by electing me to serve as Consul, the president of the chapter. Not long before that, I had learned that Edward S. Farrow, a resident of Rochester and a former international president (Grand Consul) of Sigma Chi, had suffered an acute brain aneurism and was comatose and in critical condition. Mr. Farrow had retired from Kodak in 1958 as Vice President and Assistant General Manager, with over 37 years of service.
Ed Farrow had a unique role in the establishment of the Sigma Chi chapter at the University of Rochester. In the late 1920s, Sigma Chi had collectively decided that they were no longer interested in expanding to additional campuses. But Ed Farrow, who at that time was a young engineer at Eastman Kodak, wanted the undergraduates at Rochester to have the opportunity to become brothers in Sigma Chi as he had done at MIT a few years before. In 1929, he was aware of an outstanding local fraternity at the University of Rochester (I recall that it was Sigma Delta Epsilon) that would be a perfect candidate to petition Sigma Chi for acceptance as a new chapter. So, in spite of the prevailing "no growth" attitude of the international fraternity, Ed Farrow made it his personal mission to add at least one more chapter. He brought a crew to the campus and made what today would be called a promotional film depicting the men and activities of the local candidate fraternity. Then he traveled the country visiting chapters, showing the 16 millimeter black and white film, and making his case for the establishment of a new chapter at the U of R. His one-man campaign was successful, and in 1932 the Gamma Pi chapter of Sigma Chi was recognized and its first brothers initiated.
In 1962, as I assumed the leadership of that chapter, Ed Farrow was in a vegetative state, not expected to live. I proposed to the chapter that we rededicate our chapter room, the place we conducted our most solemn fraternal ceremonies, to the memory of Brother Farrow's devotion and service to Sigma Chi. Every brother embraced the idea. We had some brainstorming sessions and decided we would refurbish the space and place a memorial plaque above the fireplace in the basement room that served as our dining room and chapter ceremonial room. I contacted Marnie Farrow, Ed's wife, to advise her of our plans and to ensure that we would not offend her or cause any emotional pain by moving forward. She wholeheartedly supported our effort.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Lloyd Balfour, CEO of the Balfour Jewelry Company, the official Sigma Chi jeweler at the time, to determine if they could produce a silver plaque, etched with a likeness of Ed Farrow and containing a dedicatory inscription. Our alumni and brothers would donate to pay for this memorial panel.
Mr. Balfour, himself a prominent Sigma Chi alumnus, responded within just a few days. He advised me that he and Ed Farrow were close friends and that he was thrilled that we wanted to honor Ed's many years of service to Sigma Chi. He proceeded to say that he would like to donate the memorial plaque and couldn't imagine charging the chapter for its manufacture. We would be receiving his contribution in a few weeks and he was honored to be part of this tribute. The next part of his letter took me by surprise.
Mr. Balfour said that he noticed my last name was Mead. He recalled that in the early 1930s, a woman named Ethel Mead Van Auken had been largely responsible for bringing the jewelry business of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority to his company. He wondered if I was related to that person to whom he was especially grateful. As I have written in a previous blog entry, I knew that woman as Aunt Ethel, my father's sister. I wrote back to Lloyd Balfour to advise him of our connection.
A few weeks later, the engraved plaque arrived. It was stunning! The engraved image of Ed Farrow was remarkable and the inscription was flawless. And so, on a sunny spring Saturday, a date suggested by Mrs. Farrow, the chapter gathered for a formal celebration and dedication. Dignitaries from the University and the fraternity participated, as did Mrs. Farrow and one of the couple's daughters. Just a few months later, in August 1962, we lost Ed Farrow at the young age of 64. His death impacted many institutions, the city of Rochester, and hundreds of friends. In his community, Ed Farrow had served as president of the Rochester Civic Music Association, board member of Rochester Art Gallery, vice president of the Rochester Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and chairman of the finance committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester. In addition he served as a member of the Corporation of M.I. T. As we say in the brotherhood of Sigma Chi, "All Honor to his name!"
