Dr. Irving FISHER

FISHER, Dr. Irving Dr. Irving D. Fisher died in Brunswick, ME on Thursday (July 22, 2010) at the age of 92. He was buried in a private ceremony, surrounded by family, with military honors at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janice Kenik Fisher; his five children, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Mark, Claire and Daniel, along with nine grandchildren. Dr. Fisher was born in Hartford, CT on March 16, 1918 to Clara and Nathan Fisher. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1936 and then from the University of Connecticut in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Army and served with distinction in Europe from 1943 to 1946, participating in the Rhineland and Central European campaigns during World War II. He returned to the United States where he was honorably discharged as a Captain, then continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve for 27 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Fisher earned his Masters and Doctorate in Political Philosophy from Columbia University in New York. He began his teaching career at Brooklyn College and Columbia University. In the mid 1960s, he relocated his family to Brunswick, Maine to teach as a visiting Professor of Government at Bowdoin College. He then embarked on a long and distinguished career as Professor at the University of Southern Maine. After 44 years of University-level teaching, Dr. Fisher became Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Southern Maine. Upon his retirement in 1999, he was recognized by the Maine State Legislature for his scholarship, authorship and his enrichment of Maine political studies. Dr. Fisher was dedicated to his academic field serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the New England Political Science Association and Chairman of the Political Science Department. His dedication to teaching extended to Maine schools serving as the Director of the Robert A. Taft Institute of Government, a program to enrich the study of public affairs at the high school level for Maine teachers. He was a respected scholar, biographer and internationally recognized authority regarding Frederick Law Olmstead. His 1986 biography of the well-known landscape architect can be found in over 435 libraries worldwide. His colleagues said, "A generation of students will remember him as a demanding and stimulating professor. He always respected the views of others, even when he may not have agreed with them. He was well liked and a valued and respected colleague." As a devoted father, he shared his passion for fitness and the outdoors, hiking, roller blading, cross-country skiing, cycling, sculling, ice-skating, and running—winning the 75 and older category at an LL Bean July 4th race. He enjoyed walking his dog thru the Maine woods as much as touring and spending time in Europe with his wife and family in their later years. He was active in the local community, participating in the Brunswick French Club, gardening at the Brunswick Community Garden and belonging to the Portland Jazz Club. He shared his passion for jazz as a volunteer at the Bowdoin College radio station and regularly attended the Boston Symphony. He will forever be admired for his devotion to family, country and sharing his pursuit of the physical and intellectual life. He is loved and will be missed by his family and friends. Family, friends, colleagues and students are invited to attend a celebration of his life Saturday (September 11, 2010), 2-5 p.m. at the Daggett Lounge in Thorne Hall on the Bowdoin College campus in Brunswick, Maine. Donations in honor of Irving can be made to: B'nai B'rith Foundation of the U.S., 2020 K Street NW, 7th Floor, Washington DC 20006, Phone: 800-573-9057, Fax: 202-857-6609. https://secure3.convio.net/bbi/site/Donation2?df_id=1416&1416.donation= form1&JServSesionIdr004=jjwnxz6515.app331b