JONATHAN R. HABER

1962 - 2022

HABER, Jonathan R. On Sunday, May 8, 2022, Jonathan "Jon" Richard Haber of Lexington passed away at the age of 60. Jon was born on April 1, 1962 in Detroit, MI to Herbert and Barbara Haber. He grew up in Winchester, MA and received a BA in Chemistry from Wesleyan University in 1985. On August 9, 1997, he married Carolyn Goldstein, with whom he had two sons, Eli and Benjamin. They lived in Somerville until 2005, when the family moved to Lexington. Jon worked as a journalist, author, CEO, and most recently an educational consultant. He wrote several books, including MOOCs and Critical Thinking for the MIT Press, as well as The Usable Portable Guide, a manual to early word processing software which he co-authored with his father. This same family partnership, with the addition of Jon's brother Nicholas, led to the founding of SkillCheck, a company with over 35 employees over 15 years and was the first of Jon's several educational business ventures. Jon's later projects included Critical Voter and Degree of Freedom. He was also a founding employee of the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School of Teaching and Learning, and consulted with a number of educational companies and nonprofits such as HarvardX and the Public Consulting Group in the areas of course development, educational assessment, and online learning. Those lucky enough to know Jon recognized his dedication to his friends, sharp intelligence and wit, creative drive, and his active participation in the community. He was even more intensely dedicated to his family, and was a consistent source of support through all their endeavors. Jon especially loved to watch and discuss movies with his family and friends. An Eagle Scout and lover of the outdoors, he was an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 119, of which his sons were members. Jon was also an active congregant at Temple Isaiah in Lexington, where he served on the Bereavement and Israel Action committees. Jon was preceded in death by his brother Matthew and his father Herbert. He is survived by his mother Barbara, his wife Carolyn, his brother Nicholas, and his sons Eli and Benjamin. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at Temple Isaiah in Lexington at 11:00 AM. Shiva will be observed in Lexington on Thursday, May 12, 2022 5:00-8:00 PM, and in Winchester on Friday, May 13 1:00-4:00 PM and Sunday, May 15 1:00-4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jon's name to Temple Isaiah, the Appalachian Mountain Club, the American Heart Association, or the organization of your choice. Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapel.com