Dave Farber has passed away
Source: Hacker News
Announcement
We are heartbroken to report that our colleague—our mentor, friend, and conscience—David J. Farber passed away suddenly at his home in Roppongi, Tokyo. He left us on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at the too‑young age of 91.
Family
- Survived by: son Manny Farber, daughter‑in‑law Mei Xu, daughter‑in‑law Carol Hagan, and grandsons Nate Farber and Sam Farfar.
- Preceded in death by: wife Gloria (G.G.) and son Joe Farber.
Manny can be reached at .
Career Highlights
- Education: Stevens Institute of Technology (later served as a Trustee).
- Early work: Bell Labs during its heyday and the Rand Corporation.
- Public service: Chief Technologist of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
- Other pursuits: Instrument‑rated pilot; board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital civil‑liberties organization.
- Frequently referred to as the “grandfather of the Internet” for his foundational contributions and mentorship of students at the University of California, Irvine; the University of Delaware; the University of Pennsylvania; and Carnegie Mellon University.
Later Years in Japan
In 2018, at age 83, Dave moved to Japan to become Distinguished Professor at Keio University and Co‑Director of the Keio Cyber Civilization Research Center (CCRC). He loved teaching and delivered his final class on January 22, 2026.
At CCRC, one of his most enjoyable activities was co‑hosting the IP‑Asia online gathering, which met every Monday for more than five years and explored the impact of technology on civilization.
Remembrance
The IP‑Asia community will gather for an online remembrance of Dave at the usual time and place, 21:00 JST on Monday, February 9, 2026.
It is impossible to summarize a life and career as rich and long as Dave’s in a few words. Each of us, even those who knew him for decades, represents just one facet of his life. Further information and a more formal obituary are forthcoming.
With condolences to Manny and the rest of the family,
Jiro Kokuryo, Cherry Wong, Kaori Suzuki, Rodney Van Meter, Dan Gillmor