Dr. Douglas Octavius Fisher

Having been here since 1934, Douglas Fisher departed this dimension on May 30, 2017. In a disagreement he always said, "In MY dimension, THIS is the way it is." He leaves in our dimension his wife, Josi (nee Gibson); his daughter, Erika Lietzan (Karl), mother of his granddaughters, Sophie and Effie (FE to him); sister, Joanne (Riad); brother, Gerald (Rudy) and his Gibson family who loved him dearly. His beloved "Bubba" Herni and older brother Alan are already in another dimension.

Professor emeritus at NCSU, Dr. Fisher was a past Head of the Department of Economics in the College of Management. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award, the Distinguished Research Award and was on the Board of Advisors. He was instrumental in developing the PhD program and led a macro seminar series as well as a macro reading group. And then there were the Suds Seminars! To quote a colleague, "Doug talked and bullied the faculty into raising its standards and improving its practices for tenure and promotion decisions."

His BA and MA were from Pitt, and PhD from the University of Chicago; he attended the London School of Economics and Brown University. A member of the Economics Honor Society at Pitt, his teaching began there. During his career he taught at 11 universities in England, Canada, Pennsylvania, California, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois and North Carolina. He was Chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Essex, England. In Wivenhow, England, he was known as the American Academic.

Dr. Fisher was an esteemed economist. He pursued a vigorous research program and was author of numerous papers published in prestigious journals here and in the UK. Of his twelve books, one was translated into Spanish, Japanese and Turkish. He, himself, was a published book reviewer as well as a referee for various journals. He developed a software program EASYREG and various classroom materials. He served as an external examiner for 12 universities, including Notre Dame, the University of the West Indies, and the University of Lahore, India. He was president of the North American Economic and Finance Association.

He will be remembered not only for his advanced and rational thinking in economics but for his wit in writing poems, short stories and what he called sketches. His MIL asked during a meal, "Wonder where this okra came from?" His response: "Okrahoma!" Such was his humor.

A native of Pittsburgh, yes, he did work in a steel mill as a B grade grinder and loved the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. As an SAE, he was a star in interfraternity sports and a great basketballer, nicknamed "Grits". Little did he know he would end up in the South! In fraternity life when there was a skit or performance, Doug was the one to write it.

As an academe he enjoyed intellectual, stimulating and challenging conversations, especially if he could work in a water bear or the theory of infinite attribution. At the same time he would talk to almost anybody about anything.

He was well traveled with Paris as his favorite. As an oenophile, he visited wineries in France and Spain. His motto: Never buy wine with an animal on the label!

In retirement he golfed and his wish was to die on the golf course after having made a hole in one. Cancer made sure that didn't happen.

As per his request, there is no formal ceremony. A Celebration of His Life with Sharing of Memories will begin at 6:36 pm on Saturday, June 3rd in the at Mitchell Funeral Home (7209 Glenwood Avenue - Raleigh, NC) until 8:38 pm.

Those wishing to honor him may contribute to the J. Nelson and Carolyn Gibson Scholarship Fund, Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC.