With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Robert (“Rob”) Haroun, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend. For more than 30 years, Rob called Westport home, where he and his wife, Julie, raised their three children, Dan, Jessica, and Annie, built lifelong friendships, and became deeply connected to the Westport community he loved.

Rob battled cancer with extraordinary determination and resilience for the last 10 years. Despite a prognosis that gave him far less time, he defied all odds, inspiring all who knew him with his strength.

An entrepreneur at heart, Rob was a mechanical engineer, an attorney, and a ground-up real estate developer. After graduating from New York Law School in 1989, he became a founding partner of Sofer & Haroun LLP, an intellectual property law firm based in Manhattan. In 1993, Rob founded SIR Development, where he combined his engineering background, legal expertise, and passion for real estate to develop more than 300 homes and numerous commercial projects throughout Fairfield County.

Rob strongly believed that success came with a responsibility to give back. Deeply committed to his community and his faith, he generously dedicated his time, talents, and leadership to causes that mattered to him. He served as Chair of the Building Committee for the Westport Library’s transformative renovation project and chaired the Property Management Committee for the Westport YMCA renovation project. In addition to giving his time, Rob was an active philanthropist who supported many local and national causes, including the Westport Rotary Club, Leukemia Fighters, the National MS Society, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Through his professional work, volunteer service, and countless acts of generosity, Rob always sought to make his community a better place.

Rob was also an active and devoted member of The Community Synagogue in Westport, where his deep commitment to Judaism was reflected in the many leadership and volunteer roles he held over the years. He was passionate about strengthening the synagogue community and giving back to the congregation that meant so much to him.

Above all, Rob put family first. He never missed a Little League baseball game or a weeknight family dinner. His legacy lives on through the family he cherished, the communities he strengthened, the homes he developed, and the many lives he touched along the way.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rob’s memory may be made to the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Health, where Rob received his care, or to The Community Synagogue in Westport.