The Grandfather of the Internet: How David J. Farber Wired the World and Mentored a Generation of Digital Pioneers

David J. Farber, the computer scientist, professor, and federal policy adviser whose experimental networking research helped lay the groundwork for the modern internet, died on February 7 at age 91. Known widely as the “Grandfather of the Internet,” Farber’s influence extended far beyond his own technical contributions — he mentored generations of students who went on to build the digital infrastructure that now connects billions of people worldwide.

His death was confirmed by multiple institutions with which he had long been affiliated, including the Internet Society and the Internet Hall of Fame. As tributes poured in from colleagues, former students, and organizations across the technology sector, a portrait emerged of a man who was not only a brilliant researcher but a tireless advocate for an open, accessible internet and a mentor whose impact multiplied through the careers of those he guided.

From Stevens Institute to the Frontiers of Computing

Farber was born on July 4, 1934, and grew up with an early fascination for electronics and computing. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he studied electrical engineering. According to Stevens Institute of Technology, Farber’s time at the school instilled in him a deep appreciation for applied science and engineering — a foundation that would serve him throughout his career. Stevens later celebrated him as one of its most distinguished alumni, crediting him with helping to shape the trajectory of global communications.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Farber went on to earn a Ph.D. and began a career that would span academia, industry, and government. He worked at Bell Laboratories, the legendary research institution, where he was exposed to some of the most advanced computing and telecommunications research of the era. His time at Bell Labs placed him at the nexus of the telephone network and the emerging world of digital computing — a convergence that would define much of his life’s work.

Distributed Computing and the NSFNet Revolution

Farber’s academic career took him to several major research universities, including the University of California, Irvine, the University of Delaware, and the University of Pennsylvania. At each institution, he pushed the boundaries of distributed computing and computer networking. As detailed by the New York Times, Farber’s work on academic experimental computer networks was instrumental in shaping the evolution of what would become the internet. His research explored how computers could communicate across distances, share resources, and form resilient, decentralized networks — concepts that are now so fundamental to modern life that they are taken for granted.

One of his most consequential contributions came through his involvement with NSFNet, the National Science Foundation’s computer network that served as a critical precursor to the commercial internet. Farber played a key advisory role in the development and expansion of NSFNet, which connected university research centers across the United States and, in doing so, demonstrated the viability and transformative potential of wide-area networking. His advocacy helped convince policymakers and funding agencies that investing in network infrastructure was not merely an academic exercise but a national imperative.

A Mentor Whose Students Changed the World

Perhaps even more significant than his own research was Farber’s role as a mentor. The New York Times noted that he “guided students who went on to do groundbreaking work in connecting the world online.” His doctoral students and advisees went on to hold influential positions in technology companies, research laboratories, and government agencies. Farber had a gift for identifying talent and nurturing it, pushing his students to think ambitiously about the societal implications of their technical work.

According to Wikipedia, Farber’s influence extended through an extraordinary network of former students and collaborators who populated the upper echelons of the computing world. He was known for fostering an environment of intellectual rigor combined with genuine warmth and generosity. His seminars and research groups became incubators for ideas that would later shape internet protocols, cybersecurity, and digital policy. The “Grandfather of the Internet” moniker, while a nod to his technical contributions, was equally a recognition of his role as a patriarch of a vast academic family tree.

The “Interesting-People” List and the Democratization of Information

Farber was also known for curating one of the internet’s earliest and most influential mailing lists, called “Interesting-People.” The list, which Farber personally moderated, distributed articles, commentary, and discussion on topics ranging from technology policy to civil liberties to the future of digital communication. It became essential reading for technologists, policymakers, journalists, and academics. The list exemplified Farber’s belief that the internet’s greatest promise lay in its ability to democratize access to information and facilitate informed public discourse.

As the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) noted in its memorial tribute, Farber was a bridge between the technical community and the policy world. He understood that the decisions being made about network architecture, standards, and governance would have profound consequences for free expression, privacy, and economic opportunity. His “Interesting-People” list was, in many ways, a prototype for the kind of curated, expert-driven information sharing that the internet would later enable at massive scale.

Advising Presidents and Shaping Federal Technology Policy

Farber’s expertise was sought at the highest levels of government. He served as Chief Technologist at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where he advised on issues related to broadband policy, spectrum allocation, and the regulation of emerging technologies. His tenure at the FCC came at a pivotal moment, as policymakers grappled with how to govern a rapidly expanding internet without stifling innovation. Farber brought a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and a principled commitment to openness, arguing consistently that the internet should remain a platform for innovation and free expression.

The Internet Hall of Fame, which inducted Farber in recognition of his contributions, published a memorial noting his role as “an Internet pioneer, mentor, and Internet Society leader.” The tribute highlighted his decades of service to the global internet community, including his work with the Internet Society, where he served on the board of trustees and helped shape the organization’s mission to promote an open, globally connected internet.

Tributes From the Organizations He Helped Build

In the days following his death, tributes flooded in from across the technology community. The Internet Hall of Fame posted on X, honoring Farber’s memory and his lasting impact on the global network. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) also paid tribute on X, recognizing his contributions to digital rights and internet freedom. The Internet Society shared its remembrance on X, calling attention to his leadership and vision.

The ISC’s memorial, published on its official blog, described Farber as someone who “helped shape the internet as we know it” and emphasized his dual legacy as both a technologist and a humanist. Colleagues recalled his insistence that technology must serve people, not the other way around — a principle that animated his work in the lab, the classroom, and the halls of government.

A Legacy Measured in Connections, Not Just Code

Farber’s later career included a professorship at Keio University in Japan, where he continued to research and teach, extending his influence to a new generation of international students. His willingness to cross borders — both geographic and disciplinary — reflected a worldview shaped by the very networks he helped create. He believed that the internet’s power lay not in any single technology but in its capacity to connect people, ideas, and institutions across every boundary.

As Stevens Institute of Technology noted in its tribute, Farber’s legacy is not confined to any single invention or publication. It lives in the architecture of the networks we use every day, in the policies that govern their operation, and — most of all — in the careers of the countless students and colleagues he inspired. In an era when the internet faces challenges ranging from misinformation to surveillance to fragmentation, the principles Farber championed — openness, accessibility, and informed governance — remain as urgent as ever. David J. Farber did not merely help build the internet; he helped ensure it was built for everyone.