Internet Pioneer David J. Farber Passes Away at 91

David J. Farber, widely regarded as the “Grandfather of the Internet”, passed away at the age of 91 in Tokyo, Japan. Farber made significant contributions to the development of modern computing and the internet, including early predictions about digital tools like email.

A Legacy in Computing and Networking

Farber’s career spanned decades, during which he played a key role in integrating computing with telecommunications. He had been teaching at Keio University, Japan, since 2018 and mentored students who would go on to contribute to the infrastructure powering today’s global internet.

His son, Emmanuel Farber, confirmed that Farber passed away due to a heart failure. Farber’s research in networking and computing earned him the title of the Internet’s “grandfather,” as he guided generations of students toward innovations that underpin modern digital communication.

Pioneering Work from the 1950s

David Farber began his career in the 1950s at Bell Laboratories, where his work helped shift computing toward networked communication—a transformation that laid the foundation for the internet. The New York Times recognized him as one of the early architects of modern technology.

Contributions to Internet Development

Farber not only conducted groundbreaking research but also trained students who shaped the internet. In the 1970s, he collaborated with his student Jonathan Postel to establish the initial rules for digital communication. Another student under his mentorship, Paul Mockapetris, went on to design the Domain Name System (DNS), a cornerstone of the internet.

Early Vision of Email and Digital Communication

In 1977, Farber co-authored a research paper with engineer Paul Baran, forecasting the potential of computers beyond calculations—as powerful tools for communication. The paper predicted the emergence of email and other digital tools, a vision that has since become reality. Farber envisioned computers as not just calculating machines but as systems capable of interacting with humans, a perspective that profoundly influenced the evolution of modern digital communication.

David J. Farber will be remembered as a visionary who laid the groundwork for the internet and trained the next generation of innovators who made his vision a reality.