Martha Reynolds Fisher

1959 - 2012

Martha Reynolds Fisher

Cambridge, MA

Martha Susan (Reynolds) Fisher, 53, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, passed away Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012, at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.

She was born May 19, 1959 in Cincinnati, OH, the eldest child of David S. Reynolds, Sr. and Hazel L. Reynolds. A 1981 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Cincinnati, she received A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from Harvard University.

Martha had a fruitful career as a professor at Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, from 1990 to 2003. She reached the rank of Associate Professor and served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry. She was a member of Hamilton Bible Fellowship and faculty advisor to the Colgate Christian Fellowship. In 2003, she married Thomas A. Fisher and moved to Cambridge, where she spent the rest of her life and was a member of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Martha suffered from scleroderma, a disease that caused pulmonary fibrosis in both of her lungs. In January 2010, she had a lung transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, recovering after a long stay there. The procedure extended her life, but she later suffered various complications and died of multiple lymphomas.

A gifted pianist and calligrapher, she was blessed with an extraordinary life; her beautiful smile, ready wit, vivacity, and faithfulness attracted many. Her interests were manifold: hiking, cycling, fencing, knitting, history, choral singing, gardening, travel, astronomy. A diligent student of the Bible, she memorized the book of Proverbs.

Martha did everything with enthusiasm, excellence, and precision. Her life was animated by her desire to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. As long as there was a reasonable prospect of treating her condition, she endured great difficulty. When it became evident that her condition was beyond medical science, she was eager to enter Christ's immediate presence, resting in his promise of eternal life for those who put their trust in him.

She was a friend and mentor to a host of women who remained in contact with her until her death. During her last week on earth, friends phoned her from all over the US, Spain, and Malaysia.

Her memory is cherished by her husband, Thomas Fisher of Cambridge, MA, her mother, Hazel L. Reynolds of Cincinnati, her brothers, David S. Reynolds, Jr. of Collierville, TN, Thomas D. Reynolds of Morgantown, W. Virginia, and John M. Reynolds of Chapel Hill, NC, her mother-in-law, Thomasena Fisher of Greenville, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ronald and Cheryl Fisher of Mauldin, her brother-in-law Theodore H. Fisher, III and sister-in-law, Leilani Fisher of Spartanburg, her niece and nephews and their families, a host of cousins, and many friends and former students.

A funeral will be held at Redeemer Fellowship Church, Watertown, MA, on Saturday, July 14th.

Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to one of the following:

First Reformed Presbyterian Church, 53 Antrim Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 or Hamilton Bible Fellowship, 7433 Hamilton Street, Hamilton, NY 13346

Scleroderma Foundation, Attn: Donations, 300 Rosewood Drive Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923.