Earl Evans Exum, 55, of West Hartford, Connecticut passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Earl cherished God and his family above all, and will forever be remembered for his kindness, devotion, and service to the community.
Earl was born on August 19, 1968, in Queens, New York and was one of five children of the late Earl R. Exum and Kathleen Exum. He attended Middlesex High School before studying Industrial Labor Relations at Cornell University. He went onto receive a dual master’s degrees from Purdue University (M.S. in Management) and Ecole Superieure de Commerce (ESC) de Rouen, France (MBA in International Business). He holds a Certificate of Management – Business Strategy from the University of Virginia, and he has his directorship certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Earl met the love of his life, Tammy Rush, in 1993 while in Atlanta, GA, through a chance encounter with a mutual friend. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married on September 30, 1995, in Charlotte, NC.
Earl was Chairman of International Aero Engines and Vice President of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney where he served for over 27 years. While at Pratt & Whitney, Earl held positions in operations, aftermarket, overhaul and repair, materials management, continuous improvement, sales, and human resources. He was the Chair and founder of Pratt & Whitney’s African American Forum, which has grown into the Black Excellence Network. Earl was also an independent board director for A.O. Smith Corporation, a publicly traded S&P 500 company, where he served on the audit committee.
Earl was a devoted member of Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford where he served in various leadership positions over the years and most recently as Moderator. Earl was a true servant in his church and also had a passion for children, education and supporting the growth and advancement of the Black community. He served on the board of the Urban League of Greater Hartford, where he was formerly treasurer. He is on the Board of Advisors for the Supply Chain Management program at Howard University Business School. He served as President of WHAASCO (West Hartford African American Social & Cultural Organization) and served on the DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Advisory Council for the CEO of Raytheon Technologies Corporation. He most recently was appointed to the board of Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
His dedication and commitment to the community was unwavering. Earl was Chair of Curatorial Committee for the Tuskegee Airmen exhibit at the New England Air Museum. He is an officer for Sigma Pi Phi fraternity, Beta Iota Boule in Farmington Valley, CT and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). Earl served on the planning committee for the annual Summer Executive Workshop – Black Economic Forum. Formerly, Mr. Exum was President of the board of directors for WHC-TV in West Hartford, CT. He was a Cub Scout Leader, and he coached football, basketball, and baseball in the West Hartford Youth Leagues.
Everyone who knew Earl knew how much he loved to dance with his wife. He was often the first to hit the dance floor. He had a passion for reading non-fiction and history books and was a sports buff. He especially loved to watch, coach and play football, which he really enjoyed doing with his sons. Earl had a passion for fitness and never missed his early morning walk and workouts.
Above all else, Earl’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 28 years, Tammy, his sons: Evan Earl, Kyle Edmond, and Jonathan Lee; his siblings: Evelyn Exum, Eileen Exum, Erick Exum (Ildiko), Ellen Exum (Neil); his sister-in-law, Monica Howard, and father-in-law, Franklin Lee Rush, along with a host of nieces and nephews and his close friends.
Services will be held at Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford CT on Saturday, October 7. Calling hour is 12:30-1:30 p.m. Sigma Pi Phi/Beta Iota Boulé Omega Ritual Service (1:30 p.m.) and Alpha Phi Alpha Omega Service (1:45 p.m.). Celebration of Life Service starts at 2 p.m. To view the livestream service, go to AHCC.org. The repast will immediately follow in the church’s fellowship hall. Howard K. Hill Funeral Services at 94 Granby Street, Bloomfield, CT has care of the arrangements. To share an online condolence message, please visit www.hkhfuneralservices.com
Donations to honor Earl’s memory and the charities he held so dear may be made to The Earl E. Exum Memorial Fund via the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving donate page. Checks may also be made to Hartford Foundation for Public Giving with The Earl E. Exum Memorial Fund written on the memo line and mailed to Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 10 Columbus Boulevard, 8th Floor, Hartford, CT 06106.
