Hi AoIRistas -- This just crossed my feeds today. I'm very sad to share that we lost an internet legend and critical technology thinker this weekend. https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/msg/ietf/hyJBX_lXzJ8bXBpAyImNCXOW_no/ ----- Forwarded message from "Cherry, Hei Yui WONG" <cherry.heiyui@keio.jp> -----
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2026 11:06:40 +0900 From: "Cherry, Hei Yui WONG" <cherry.heiyui@keio.jp> Subject: Sad news: Dave Farber has passed away
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.
To his son Manny, he was simply ???Dad???, his bedrock whom he will miss immeasurably. They spoke almost daily by video throughout his time in Japan, and shared special times on numerous visits. He is survived by son Manny Farber and daughter-in-law Mei Xu, daughter-in-law Carol Hagan and grandsons Nate Farber and Sam Farber. He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria (G.G.) and son Joe Farber.
Dave???s career began with his education at Stevens Institute of Technology, which he loved deeply and served as a Trustee. He joined the legendary Bell Labs during its heyday, and worked at the Rand Corporation. Along the way, among countless other activities, he served as Chief Technologist of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission; became a proficient (instrument-rated) pilot; and was an active board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital civil-liberties organization.
His professional accomplishments and impact are almost endless, but often captured by one moniker: ???grandfather of the Internet,??? acknowledging the foundational contributions made by his many students at the University of California, Irvine; the University of Delaware; the University of Pennsylvania; and Carnegie Mellon University
In 2018, at the age of 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 taught his final class on January 22, 2026.
At CCRC, one of his most enjoyable activities was co-hosting the IP-Asia online gathering, which has met every Monday for more than five years and has addressed many aspects of the impact of technology on civilization. Dave thrived in Japan in every way.
We, the IP-Asia community, will gather for an online remembrance of Dave at the usual time and place, 2100 JST on Monday, February 9, 2026.
It???s impossible to summarize a life and career as rich and long as Dave???s in our few words here. And each of us, even those who knew him for decades, represent just one facet of his life. But because we are here at its end, we have the sad duty of sharing this news. 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
Manny can be reached at manny.farber@gmail.com <mailto:manny.farber@gmail.com>.
----- End forwarded message ----- RIP, Dave. All of us Interesting People have been touched in one way or other by your work, thoughts, and thoughtfulness over the many years, and will miss you. -- rick -- Richard F. Forno, Ph.D. Teaching Professor, CSEE Director, Graduate Cybersecurity Programs Associate Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Institute Affiliate Scholar, Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society