Obituary of Martha Jean Farber
Martha Jean Gilmore Farber, 67, of Delmar, NY, a distinguished ophthalmologist who dedicated her life to serving veterans in Albany, died due to complications from cancer treatment on Saturday, September 22, 2018.
Born on December 6, 1950 and raised in Bacon Hill, NY, Dr. Farber was Valedictorian of her Schuylerville High School class of 1968 and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY in 1972. She graduated with honors from SUNY Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, NY and went on to complete her Internship at Albany Medical Center. Dr. Farber completed her Residency in Ophthalmology at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where she was the first female Chief Resident in the history of the program. She went on to work at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, conducting ground breaking pathology research that established a connection between infant eye damage and shaken baby syndrome.
Beginning in 1993, Dr. Farber served as Chief of Ophthalmology and most recently as Chief of Staff at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY, where she was a fierce advocate for patients. Her passion for serving veterans was borne from the admiration, respect, and love she had for her father Emmett, a veteran who served in World War II. From 2002 to 2009, Dr. Farber served as a board director on the American Board of Ophthalmology, becoming the first female Chair of the ABO in 2009. She was also Professor of Ophthalmology at Albany Medical College, Program Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program at AMC from 1994-1999, and the Ophthalmic Pathologist at Albany Medical Center. She was not only a teacher and a colleague but a friend, helping her students and fellow employees through tough times.
A list of Dr. Farber’s many career accomplishments include: Member of the ACGME Ophthalmology RRC from 2003-2010; Counselor for the American Academy of Ophthalmology from 2003-2009; President of the Association of VA Ophthalmologists 1998-2000; President of the American Association of Ophthalmic Pathologists 2007-2008; Member of the Surgical Advisory Board for Ophthalmology for the National Surgery Office from 2009-2018 (Chair 2016); and Member of the Verhoeff-Zimmerman Ophthalmic Pathology Society.
Dr. Farber was a committed member of the Jewish community in Albany. She was a member of Congregation Ohav Shalom, where she became Bat Mitzvah, served as president of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, and took several trips to Israel with her family.
She had a love for good music including Janis Joplin, Carole King, James Taylor, Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, among many others. She had a passion for travel, world history, and a taste for fine red wine. She loved creating needle point art as presents for friends and family. She was a big sports fan and was often the loudest spectator at her children’s hockey games. She pushed and supported her children to succeed academically, professionally, and in life. She took on the responsibility of caring for friends and loved ones in times of need, and she loved to host friends and family for the holidays, including cooking delicious meals, even when undergoing her recent treatments for cancer. She was an inspiration to those who knew her, serving as an example to strive for success in all things, and a guiding light in times of turmoil.
She is survived by her former husband Jeffrey Farber; her children Mark Farber, David Farber, and Sarah Toledano; her sister Sally Cahan; her grandson and the light of her life Shlomo Toledano; and nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was predeceased by her sister Susan Gilmore Heighton, her mother Virginia Gilmore, and her father Emmett Gilmore.
A service in commemoration of her life is scheduled for Wednesday September 26, 2018 at 10:00AM at Levine Memorial Chapel, 649 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12206, followed by burial at Bacon Hill Cemetery, Bacon Hill, NY. The family will hold visiting hours and evening prayers at 5:30PM Wednesday and Thursday, September 26 and 27, at her home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: the Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org), Eden’s Rose Foundation (www.edensrose.org), the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York (www.jewishfedny.org).
