Proud UM Alumnus Bequeaths Estate to Support Cancer Research at Sylvester
Having faced both lung and prostate cancer, Barry Farber was proud to be associated with a university conducting impactful cancer research.
Throughout his life, Barry Farber, B.B.A. ’56, was a rather understated and humble man. Still, he never shied away from expressing his profound pride in his alma mater, the University of Miami. Having faced both lung and prostate cancer, Farber was particularly proud to be associated with a university conducting cutting-edge cancer research.
Fittingly, when it came time to plan his estate, he named Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of UHealth — University of Miami Health System and South Florida’s only NCI-designated cancer center, as his philanthropic priority.
Farber, who passed away in February at the age of 89, bequeathed his estate to Sylvester with a $5.4 million gift to support the construction of the Kenneth C. Griffin Cancer Research Building.
He was confident this landmark facility, set to open in 2025, would enable Sylvester to become a beacon of influence for cancer research institutions around the world and bring hope to all those impacted by this illness. A naming opportunity in the new 12-story, 244,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility located on the UM Medical Campus will be given in his honor.
Supporting Research Innovation
Farber’s legacy also included more than $500,000 in immediate-use research funding. Over the past five years, his generosity has backed innovative investigations into head and neck cancers, sarcomas and prostate cancer, and supported Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative.
Radiation oncologist Brandon Mahal, M.D., an internationally recognized expert in prostate cancer and health equity, is one of the recipients of Farber’s funding.
“Barry Farber’s generosity and commitment to advancing prostate cancer research have profoundly impacted my career and the lives of countless individuals at high risk of this disease, particularly in underserved neighborhoods across South Florida,” said Dr. Mahal, who is vice chair of academic programs and residency program director at the Miller School. “Mr. Farber’s support has not only propelled my work in scientific discovery but also allowed me to reach those in greatest need, ensuring his legacy lives on through the hope and healing his compassion has made possible.”
In a show of appreciation for Farber’s faith and philanthropy, Sylvester honored him at the PhilanthropyMiami 2024 Donor Next Door Celebration, which recognizes donors who give their time, talent and treasure for the betterment of the greater Miami community. Farber attended with a table of his best friends just weeks before he passed.
“He was so excited about that donors dinner. That, and having a space named after him in the new cancer research building,” said lifelong friend Richard “Dicky” Watters, who befriended Farber early in their careers as salesmen when Farber worked for Boyle Midway and, later, Abbott. “Barry was always very modest. But at the end, he was beaming with pride over the legacy he had created.”
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
That legacy will go a long way to elevating Sylvester as a world leader in cancer research. With the opening of the Griffin Cancer Research Building next year, Sylvester will double its research footprint, accelerate efforts to develop new therapies, enhance patient care and expand access to clinical trials.
“Planned giving is one of the most powerful philanthropic tools available to Sylvester’s benefactors,” said Stephen Nimer, M.D., director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and executive dean for research at the Miller School. “I had the privilege of getting to know Barry over the years and cannot thank him enough for having the foresight to recognize and support the valuable work our physician-scientists are doing to discover, develop and deliver lifesaving treatments to all those affected by this devastating disease.”
To learn more about estate and planned giving opportunities, please email Kyle Paige, J.D.
Tags: alumni, Dr. Brandon Mahal, Dr. Stephen Nimer, lung cancer, philanthropy, prostate cancer, Sylverster Comprehensive Cancer Center