Jennifer Erb was the heart and soul of the Interactivity Foundation. For over 35 years, she was a constant presence, not only in the daily operations of IF but in the lives of everyone who worked alongside her. She was a mentor, a historian of IF’s journey, and, above all, a dear friend. Her impact was immeasurable, and today we celebrate her.
Jennifer joined the Interactivity Foundation in 1989 as a high school co-op, hired by founder Jay Stern. What began with copying and filing documents soon evolved into managing everything from finances to internal operations to institutional history. Before the rise of search functions, there was Jennifer—somebody who knew exactly where everything belonged, both on paper and within IF. Over the years, she became Vice President of Finance & Operations, but her contributions went far beyond a title. She brought an unwavering dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and a deep commitment to IF’s mission.
But to speak only of Jennifer’s work is to miss the reality of who she was. She kept us grounded, knew how to bring humor into even the most difficult moments, and forged deep connections with all that worked with her. She had a way of making people feel seen and valued.
A few members of the IF team share cherished memories:
- JoJo: “One of my favorite things about Jennifer was the way we could communicate in movie scenes and song lyrics, like our own secret language. Nobody else had to understand it—because we did. A single line from a film or a lyric from a song was enough to say everything we needed to say. I’ll miss that always.”
- Eric : “What I remember about Jennifer was her generosity in time and spirit, her kindness, and her sense of humor. We also used to do NY Times mini crossword puzzles and text each other how fast we could do them. Every time I open up the mini crossword, I think of her.”
- Sydney: “Jennifer was like a bonus mom to me. I could walk to her with anything, and she always had a funny story or piece of advice to give me. Never have I clicked and trusted someone so immensely and quickly as I did Jennifer. She will live in my mind eternally.”
- Ritu: “I loved talking with her about my cat, Kevin the office cat, and all of Ms. Jennifer’s pets, and laughing with her at their cuteness, silliness, and all the mischief they got up to.”
- Laura: “For better or worse, Jennifer brought the Scottish implement and the word ‘spurtle’ to my life. I’ll think of her every time I’m in Scotland, or reading a low-brow vampire novel.”
Jennifer made every day brighter for those around her. She lifted spirits, built deep friendships, and created a sense of home within IF.
Jennifer, we celebrate you, your wisdom, and the friendship you brought to our lives. Thank you for everything you shared with us.
Jennifer’s obituary can be found here.
