Richard Goldfarb
Obituary

Richard (Buddy) Steven Goldfarb was born August 31,1946 in Port Chester New York to his parents Willie and Thelma Goldfarb. Four years later, his sister Jeanni joined the family. In 1961, the family took a road trip across the United States. They ended up in Los Angeles visiting relatives. As they were set to return east, Buddy’s father announced that they were going to stay in California. Relatives in New York packed up their belongings and shipped them west. The biggest trauma for Buddy was that his collection of baseball cards was thrown away, including five Mickey Mantle rookie cards.

Buddy started playing the saxophone when he was nine years old. He was so small he propped the sax on a kitchen chair to practice. He eventually added clarinet and flute and was proficient with all. Buddy’s determination and discipline also helped him to achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

Buddy attended Fairfax high school where he graduated in 1964. He played in the orchestra, the marching band and the concert band. During his senior year he was drum major of the marching band and was president of the band and orchestra organization. Both his junior and senior year he competed in the battle of the bands at the Hollywood bowl came in second one year, and he received an individual award for his accomplishments.

In 1967, he met his first wife Georgia in college at California State University Northridge. In 1969, they married and moved to Las Vegas. He played in the house band at The Landmark. Their daughter, Rebecca, was born in December of 1969.

In 1975 Buddy moved back to New York to further pursue his musical career. He formed a woodwind trio, known as Mozart on Fifth. They started as street musicians and toured extensively throughout the United States performing at universities and music festivals.

In 1992 he moved to Long Beach, California and on October 2, 1993 Ingrid and Buddy were married. Buddy continued to do some touring with Mozart on Fifth, but he quickly got involved with several local bands in Southern California: among them the Long Beach Community Band, the Max Bishop Big Band, the Little Big Band, Jazz at the Naz, The Jazz Derelicts, Fumble Fingers, Saxophonia, Horns of Plenty and Santa Ana College Jazz Band. He elevated the musicianship in every group he played and brought a unique sense of humor and fun to every encounter.

Buddy loved being a grandfather. He was a beloved FarFar to Montana and Emmitt, When Taryn was born in 2014, he became PopE. He devoted every Wednesday to spending time together in Topanga Canyon. During the pandemic they changed to weekly FaceTime marathons.

On June 10th Buddy lost his battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Ingrid, daughter, Rebecca, son-in-law, Oliver, granddaughter Taryn, step-granddaughter, Jessica, sister Jeanni Goldfarb and sister-in-law, Gelsa Paladino, step-daughter, Kiersten and son-in law, Tim Short, grandchildren Montana Short and Emmitt Short, his cousins, nieces, nephews, neighbors and countless friends.

His love, kindness, music, flowers, humor and playfulness will be missed by everyone.