Dr. Howard “Steve” Farmer

PRINCETON… Dr. Howard Stephen Farmer (Steve), 82, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, November 5, 2017.

Steve was born in Brooklyn, NY to Hilda Farmer and the notable band leader and jazz drummer, William Farmer. The family moved to Hillside, NJ shortly thereafter where Steve spent most of his youth. He played trombone at Hillside High School and beyond, and most recently with the Witherspoon Traveling Medicine Show, a local Dixieland band. Steve also played the trumpet, French horn, guitar, and viola. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1956, Steve earned a medical degree from Washington University. While completing an ear, nose, and throat medical fellowship at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, Steve met Maxine Ziss, who would become his beloved wife of 55 years. They settled in Princeton in 1966 where Steve managed a busy ENT practice and served as an attending surgeon at Princeton Medical Center throughout his professional career.

As a competitive and nationally ranked squash player, Steve helped carry the United States squash team to a silver medal during the 1985 Maccabiah Games. In addition to his love of playing music and squash, Steve, along with Maxine, enjoyed Broadway theater, worldwide travel, playing cards, and socializing with friends.

Predeceased by his wife Maxine, Steve is survived by his sons, George, Jacob, and Sam, daughters-in-law, Nancy, Jenna, and Lisa, grandchildren, Ruby, Joshua, William, Mattia, and Talya, his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Morton Miller. Steve was laid to rest Friday, November 10, at a private ceremony at Princeton Cemetery alongside Maxine, who died last year. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Sunday, November 12 at The Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton. Memorial contributions can be made to the Jewish Center of Princeton, or Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County.