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FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FUN
While Bill took his business life seri-
ously, he also had a wonderful sense
of humor, a dry wit that reflected
his unique perspective on the world
around him. Lunches with his friends
were filled with nonstop laughter.
“The man was a lot of fun to be
around and he was a great storyteller,”
said Loss, a close friend and confi-
dante.
“He was like a brother to me,” said
Harold Gottlieb of Birmingham, a
friend since teen years. “He was giv-
ing, not just of money, but of love and
warmth. He didn’t give for recognition
but because it made him feel good.”
Gottlieb, also philanthropic, had fun
collaborating with Bill on a number of
private philanthropic projects, which
they did quietly and anonymously.
Bill’s grandchildren were a great
source of pride and joy for Bill. One of
his most fulfilling moments occurred
in the last weeks of his life when his
granddaughter Channa and her fiance
traveled from Sweden for a wedding
blessing ceremony.
“He was so proud and happy,” said
Larry, Channa’s father.
TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFTS
The Farbers gave nearly $10 million to
Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills
in several phases — first to create the
William and Audrey Farber Family
IDEA Lab, built in 2014, and then to
renovate most of the interior of the
school into a 21st-century learning
center where students could learn
amid collaboration and creativity.
The Farbers have generously sup-
ported Tamarack Camps over the
years, including the Audrey and
William Farber Family Village and the
newest initiative, the Farber Farm.
“The recent gift to launch the farm
will help our camp community dis-
cover firsthand the true meaning of
tikkun olam and the important role
each of us has in stewarding our pre-
cious environment,” said Steve Engel,
Tamarack Camps CEO.
In Israel, Bill’s passion for education
extended to his support of an educa-
tional program for Israeli soldiers: the
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
(FIDF) Formal Education Program,
which allows IDF soldiers to receive
their high school completion certifi-
cates during their military service.
“Providing these educational
opportunities will have an everlasting
impact on the lives of many brave,
young heroes and on the future of
our Jewish homeland,” said Paula
Lebowitz, development director for
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April 6 • 2017
jn
the Michigan FIDF Chapter.
Grandson Justin Farber, son of
David and Nanci, just completed his
stint as a Lone Soldier in the IDF. In
November, he was honored at the
local FIDF gala dinner and is now
back in Michigan.
The long list of organizations the
Farbers have helped to transform
includes the PJ Library, a program
that provides books to children
and brings young families together;
Michigan State University Hillel;
Opening the Doors, a special edu-
cation program of Federation; the
Lifelinks program of Jewish Hospice
and Chaplaincy; Jewish Senior Life;
Hillel of Metro Detroit; Temple Israel;
The Well; and the Jewish Ensemble
Theatre (JET), among others.
“He wanted to make transfor-
mational gifts while he was alive,”
said daughter-in-law Nanci Farber.
“He made a huge impact in a short
amount of time by design.”
Although most of Bill’s donations
were made to Jewish projects and
organizations, he supported secular
causes as well. Some of these include
the Alzheimer’s Association, Starfish
Family Services, the Empowerment
Plan in Detroit and a new pet care
program at the Haven shelter for vic-
tims of domestic violence.
Bill Farber is survived by his
beloved wife of 62 years, Audrey;
cherished children, Larry (Barbara),
David (Nanci) and Jeffrey (Jennifer);
devoted grandchildren, Channa
Farber, Noah Farber, Adina Farber,
Amanda Farber, Justin Farber, Hailey
Farber, Mackenzie Morton, Alexis
Morton, Jacob Farber and Jessica
Farber; dear brother and sister, Gerald
“Jake” Farber and Marsha Berniker. He
will also be missed by his many loving
nieces, nephews, cousins and a world
of friends.
Contributions in Bill Farber’s
memory may be directed to Farber
Soul Center, c/o Friendship Circle,
Meer Family Friendship Center, 6892
W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322, (248)788-7878, www.friendship-
circle.org; or Tamarack Camps, Farber
Farm, 6735 Telegraph Road #380,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, (248) 952-
9110, www.tamarackcamps.com/trib-
utes/; or Farber Hebrew Day School,
21100 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI
48076, (248) 386-1627, www.farber-
hds.org; or Hillel Day School, 32200
Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills,
MI 48334, (248) 851-3220, www.hil-
lelday.org; or Empowerment Plan
Detroit, 1401 Vermont St., Detroit, MI
48216, www.empowermentplan.org. •