David J. Farber

David J. Farber, a visionary computer scientist widely recognized as a "grandfather of the Internet," passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 91 in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan. His profound contributions to programming languages, computer networking, and technology policy laid essential groundwork for the digital world we inhabit today. Farber's career spanned decades, influencing generations of researchers and shaping the very architecture of global communication.

Born in New Jersey on April 17, 1934, Farber earned his M.E. in Electrical Engineering in 1956 and an M.S. in Mathematics in 1961 from the Stevens Institute of Technology. He began his illustrious career at Bell Laboratories, where he spent 11 years contributing to the design of the first electronic switching system (ESS-1) and the development of the SNOBOL programming languages. Later, at the University of California, Irvine, he spearheaded the creation of the world's first operational distributed computer system, a pioneering effort in collaborative computing.

Farber's influence extended significantly into the development of the Internet's infrastructure. While at the University of Delaware, he played a crucial role in conceiving and organizing major American research networks, including CSNET, NSFNet, and the National Research and Education Network (NREN), which were instrumental in transitioning academic networking to the commercial Internet. His commitment to an open and accessible internet was further demonstrated during his tenure as Chief Technologist for the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from 2000 to 2001.

Throughout his distinguished academic career, Farber held professorships at numerous esteemed institutions, including the University of California, Irvine, the University of Delaware, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, he embarked on a new chapter, moving to Japan to serve as a Distinguished Professor and Co-Director of the Cyber Civilization Research Center at Keio University, where he continued to teach and explore the future of the internet. He was also known for running the widely read "Interesting-People" mailing list, fostering discussion on critical technology issues.

His lifelong dedication to computer science and public policy earned him numerous accolades. Farber was a recipient of the 1995 SIGCOMM Award for his enduring contributions to computer communications and was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2020, he received the EPIC Lifetime Achievement Award for his steadfast commitment to privacy and Internet security. David J. Farber's legacy is marked by his groundbreaking technical achievements, his advocacy for digital civil liberties, and his profound impact as a mentor and educator.