Noah Fasten

Noah Fasten was born on April 21, 1942 and passed away on January 29, 2026 from complications of the kidney and heart. He was surrounded by his wife Phyllis and his children Rebecca, Marc, and Rachel.

Raised in Newark, New Jersey, Noah went on to study architecture at Penn State, a discipline that suited his thoughtful mind and eye for structure. Shortly after college, he spent four formative years in Israel with his two young children before returning to the United States. Wanting to be close to his younger brother, Sandy, Noah settled in Brookline, where his youngest daughter, Rachel, was born.

Noah worked for many years as a building inspector for the town of Brookline. It was there that he met Phyllis, and together they built a life by blending families, laughter, and shared purpose. Later in life, Noah transitioned into real estate, bringing his integrity and keen judgment to his work.

A lifelong martial artist, Noah practiced karate and tai chi for decades, earning a third-degree black belt in karate. When his days of sparring in the dojo came to an end, tai chi continued—often in a makeshift basement dojo—alongside longtime friends who shared his discipline and curiosity.

Above all else, Noah found his greatest joy in his family. He cherished time with his children and his many grandchildren, whether traveling across oceans or sitting contentedly at the kitchen table with a tuna sandwich, chocolate, and tea.

Noah was loving, warm, funny, outrageous, gentle, compassionate, and deeply empathetic—a singular blend of seriousness and absurdity that made life richer for everyone around him. His family and friends were fortunate to share their lives with him, and he will be profoundly missed.

Noah leaves behind his loving wife Phyllis; his cherished children: daughter Rebecca, son Marc and his wife Melissa, daughter Rachel and her husband Rob, daughter Erica, daughter Sarah and her husband Jeff; and nine beloved grandchildren: Max, Miles, Anna, Gabriel, Frankie, Charlie, Jack, Mars, and Mira. He is also survived by his younger brother Sandy and his older sister Susan.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 10:30 am at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. The service will be available via livestream at the following link: www.levinelive.com/noahfasten

Burial will follow at Zviller Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA.

Shiva will be held following the service on Thursday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm (with service at 6 pm) at the family residence. Continuing Friday, February 6, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (with service at 11:00 am).

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Noah’s memory to a charity of your choice.