Freedom and Creativity: The Lifelong Influence of Sander Faber

Thank you, Rabbi, and thank you all for being here today to celebrate the life of Sander Faber.

Finding Freedom in Fearlessness

Sander was the freest man I have ever known. His freedom came from the absence of fear—fear of the different, the unknown, and the fear that comes from not trusting in oneself. He embodied the freedom to explore, create, and love.

Born of Curiosity

From a young age, Sander loved to build things. As a teenager, he ran wires to other family houses to hear Sibelius’ Finlandia from his parents' turntable. He once crafted a crystal radio for his sister, Corrine. Though times have changed, even today none of us have seen one of these radios.

An Explorer's Curiosity

With a natural curiosity that saw him into the unknown, Sander would take us on various adventures—studio visits, air shows, and even the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit riots. Through him, I first saw the world's first video camera, calculator, Walkman, and even the first car phone and Apple computer.

A Entrepreneurial Spirit

Sander was a renowned entrepreneur and businessman in the siding industry, a tough field to master. His success came from an unwavering belief in reinventing the offering and pushing boundaries.

The Power of Perseverance

From early on, Sander instilled in me a culture of hard work and perseverance. In 1978, he challenged his sons Henry and myself to sell straw hats at Graceland, where he said there would be 50,000 people. Through this daring adventure, I learned valuable lessons about the importance of good work habits and endurance.

True Companionship

His love extended beyond business to his family and hobbies. Sander once finished a roofing job for a bedridden couple for free, and opened his pool to a halfway house to let the residents enjoy a day in the sun. He loved his children fiercely, teaching them ever-valuable life lessons that spanned card games, stamp collecting, coin collecting, and even fishing.

A Loyal and Generous Father

Even though Sander and my mother, Florence, divorced when I was six, his presence in my life remained. Sundays at Lakeland were an event, and his love for his partner, Lucinda, was evident in the way he complimented her every day.

From Stereo to Stereoscopic Vision

Sander's hobbies were as varied as his intellect: music, photography, gardening, and food. His stereo equipment was a passion, and even now, my attic remains a testament to his dedication to sound technology. His photography skills allowed him to create 3-D pictures, and his plants were a testament to his gardening prowess.

The Power of Remembering

Sander's influence extended far beyond his direct actions. The lessons he taught us—about hard work, exploration, and loving without reservation—resonate even today. And though he is no longer with us, his love and legacy continue to inspire, reminding us to embrace the freedom of being different and to keep our sense of wonder in a world that often settles for quick answers.

May his memory be a blessing, as we continue to live in the present, with great hope for the future.

Now this from our prayer book:

“In many houses All at once We see our Dad And he is young and laughing as he comes in That he can’t see our tears is of no matter We were once his dream now he is ours.”