The Penn Engineering community mourns the passing of David J. Farber, an influential computer scientist, dedicated educator, and public servant whose work helped shape the modern Internet and the academic institutions that supported its development. Dr. Farber passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 91, at his home in Tokyo, Japan. His legacy endures through generations of students, colleagues, and policymakers who benefited from his intellect, leadership, and principled vision.
Dr. Farber served as a professor in Computer and Information Science at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he played a formative role in the department’s early years. Even for those whose tenure at Penn only briefly overlapped with his, his impact was unmistakable. As one colleague recalled, Dave “made quite the impression, as an absolute dynamo of energy and ideas,” and is remembered as a “legend for his role in the creation of the Internet.”
Widely referred to as the “grandfather of the Internet,” Dr. Farber’s influence extended far beyond any single institution. He mentored pioneering researchers at Penn and at the University of California, Irvine; the University of Delaware; and Carnegie Mellon University, helping to establish intellectual foundations that continue to shape networking, distributed systems, and Internet architecture. His career also included influential research roles at Bell Labs and the RAND Corporation during pivotal moments in the evolution of computing.
Dr. Farber was equally committed to public service and the responsible governance of technology. As Chief Technologist of the Federal Communications Commission, he brought technical clarity and moral conviction to national policy discussions, including landmark antitrust proceedings. He later served on the board of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, advocating for civil liberties, openness, and accountability in the digital age. Throughout these roles, colleagues consistently emphasized the personal qualities that defined his leadership. One former collaborator noted, “Most importantly, I remember vividly how warm and kind he was to everybody.”
In 2018, at the age of 83, Dr. Farber moved to Japan to become Distinguished Professor at Keio University and Co-Director of the Cyber Civilization Research Center. There, he continued teaching, mentoring, and convening international conversations on the societal impact of technology. He taught his final class on January 22, 2026, underscoring a lifelong commitment to education and intellectual engagement.
Within CIS, Dr. Farber is remembered not only for his technical contributions, but for the culture of curiosity, mentorship, and integrity he helped foster. His departure marked a significant loss to the department; as one colleague reflected, “When Dave left Penn, it was a big loss for us to lose his wisdom and guidance.”
Dr. Farber is survived by his son Manny Farber, daughter-in-law Mei Xu, daughter-in-law Carol Hagan, and grandsons Nate and Sam Farber.
We honor David J. Farber as a foundational figure in computer science and as a humanist whose work consistently emphasized the responsibility of technology to serve society. His influence will continue to shape the department, the field, and the many lives he touched.