John C. Harroff, Dvm

John C. Harroff, DVM, 78, of Concord died Saturday, October 12, 2024. He was born on December 27, 1945 in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Jack and Jeannette (Astry) Harroff. He had fond memories of growing up with his late brother Mark Harroff and many cousins and lasting friends in Salem, Ohio. John graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1969. Upon graduation he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army in Corpus Christi, Texas.

After completing his military service, John and his OSU classmate and long-time business partner and friend, Dr. Charles Steinman, opened and worked in numerous community veterinary practices. John was the owner of Cabarrus Animal Hospital in Kannapolis from 1972 until he sold the practice in 2015 and continued to practice part-time. John was an exceptional veterinarian and a national icon for his ear-cropping expertise. He was a member of the Omega Tau Sigma veterinary fraternity, American Veterinary Medical Association, and North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. He poured his entire being into helping local pets, made friends with every client who walked through the door, and mentored generations of professionals in the veterinary field. He treated his clients, colleagues, and staff as family.

John owned Twin Willow Farm in Concord and was active in breeding and racing Thoroughbred horses for over 25 years. He was a member of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. More than a business, John loved the horses and his horse-racing friends.

John was incredibly generous, kind, and caring. He made every person he encountered feel valued and went out of his way to help and uplift others, whether with a good (or bad) joke, a not-so-short story, a personalized singing e-birthday card, some words of advice, a house call to help a beloved pet, or–often–much more. Perhaps his greatest joy was providing opportunities for others to pursue their passions and helping his friends and community in times of need. Like his larger-than-life personality, John’s legacy extends well beyond his life. He touched so many others.

John loved and was incredibly proud of his family. He is survived by his best friend and partner Margaret Harroff, of Concord; his daughter Lindsay Harroff, of Mooresville; and his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter Lauren, Jeff, and Sylvie Trondsen of Freeville, NY.

John will be buried alongside his father, mother, and brother in Salem, OH on Saturday, October, 19th following a service at the Chapel at Grandview Cemetery at 2:00 PM.

A celebration of life will be held at the Cabarrus Country Club in Concord, NC on Sunday, October 27th. Drop in from 2:00 to 4:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in John’s name to one of two organizations John was devoted to supporting throughout his life – Spay it Forward or the International Children’s Fund.