S. Farber, gunner in World War II, dies at 86
S. Edmond Farber, a longtime North Bellmore resident who flew several combat missions during World War 2 as a gunner on attack, died Dec. 30, 2010. He was 86.
Newsday's obituary for S. Edmond Farber
Credit: Handout
S. Edmond Farber, a longtime North Bellmore resident who flew combat missions as a gunner in World War II, died Thursday from various health complications. Farber, who worked for more than 50 years as a stock trader and private investor, was 86.
Farber grew up in Brooklyn and was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942 at the age of 18.
As a gunner, Farber got a perilous view of World War II seated on A-20 Havoc bombers as "the guy in the glass bubble," according to his son, Steven Farber of Glen Cove.
Farber was credited with flying 57 successful combat missions during his military career, including in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He flew two missions on June 6, 1944 - D-Day.
Despite the dangerous duty, Farber survived the war unscathed, his son said.
His closest call came when a shell went through his plane, even tearing Farber's uniform, his son said.
"He did say that there was a part of him that felt his days in the service were some of the best days of his life, aside from the terror they went through," said Steven Farber, 55. "It was the teamwork and all the guys looking out for one another."
Farber received several awards and commendations for his service, including the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.
The French government also recognized his service in France by naming him a Chevalier - or knight - of the Legion of Honor.
After returning from the war, Farber briefly worked in his family's fruit stand business in Brooklyn before becoming a stock trader. Much like in the military, Farber enjoyed the fast-paced action and camaraderie that came with the job, his son said.
"When he was working in the trading rooms, it was before everything was electronic. It was very much a team effort," Steven Farber said of his father, who even into his 80s checked in with fellow traders each day and kept a close eye on the markets on his BlackBerry and home computers. "He was really a super, highly respected man. If he shook your hand, the deal was done."
Edmond Farber lived with his wife of 64 years, Mildred, in their North Bellmore home since 1966.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by his daughter Nancy Farber of Amherst, Mass.; sisters Elaine Friedman of Boca Raton, Fla., and Iris Spano and Rochelle Woolman, both of Manhattan; and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A funeral service is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday at Gutterman's Memorial Chapel in Woodbury, followed by burial in New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon.
