Jacob Biber

Pembroke Pines, Fla. - Jacob Biber, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., formerly of Norwich, passed away on Nov. 21, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. with his sons by his side.

Jacob was born on March 15, 1915, to Elkana Dov Biber and Chasia Biber, in Matziev, in what is now known as Lukiv, in the West Ukraine.

From early on he was industrious and hard working. As a young teenager he joined a pro-Zionist movement where he met the love of his life, his future wife, Eva. They were married in 1939.

Jacob and Eva were amongst the scant few to survive the Holocaust in their region, hiding in the forest, barns, and at times with the few friends that had courage to shelter them. Jacob chronicled their experiences in a book, Survivors, first published in 1982.

At the war's end, Jacob and Eva reached a displaced persons (DP) camp Föhrenwald, in Bavaria, Germany. There Jacob set about creating a school for survivor children, many of whom were orphans. He became the Director of the Tarbut School, which received a visit by the Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1947, they immigrated to the United States, with their two year old son and settled on a farm in North Franklin. In 1950, they moved to a farm in Preston. Jacob's energy and ingenuity turned around a failing dairy farm and he won recognition for his efforts. Later, this farm would become the "home farm" in a busy shell-egg agribusiness that served the Southern New England market. Over time, two more sons would be born. Jacob, in addition to growing the business, wrote poetry and was a frequent contributor to Yiddish papers such as The Forward. In 1966, he was featured in a European television program for his agricultural achievements. In 1973, he sold the business, but kept the farms.

In 1974, he founded the Preston Trading Post, in Preston. He operated and grew the store until his retirement in 1988, giving the control to his youngest son. He moved to Florida with Eva.

Jacob was a committed member of the communities in which he lived. He was a member of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Norwich, and Century Pines Jewish Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He was a staunch supporter of Israel and involved in many Israel Bond Drives. He supported 4-H, organized the talent shows for the Preston City Fair, and was a member of the Grange, and numerous business and civic organizations.

In the last two decades, Jacob committed himself to writing and teaching about the Holocaust, frequently speaking at high schools as living testimony to that dark period. His message was the need for tolerance and love, of which he was a living example.

He is survived by Eva, the wife he adored for seventy years; three sons, Hyman, Benzion, and Joseph; two cherished daughters-in-law, Sonia and Lorraine; and six beloved grandchildren, Joshua, Melissa, Seth David, Nikita, Jessica, and Alisa.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at the Beth Jacob Synagogue, 400 New London Turnpike in Norwich. Burial will follow in Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery #3 in Preston.

Shiva will be observed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at the home of Hyman and Sonia Biber, 19 Sherwood Lane in Norwich with services at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jacob Biber's memory may be made to any humanitarian cause of the donor's choice.

The Church and Allen Funeral Home, 136 Sachem St., Norwich, is entrusted with arrangements.