Robert Burton Fisher

Robert Burton Fisher, MD
PORTLAND -- Robert Burton Fisher, MD, passed away on May 4, 2011, at the Maine Medical Center in Portland.
He was born on April 18, 1937, in Bronxville, N.Y., the son of Granville Hamilton and Ida Katherine (Adams) Fisher. He attended Amityville Public Schools on Long Island.
After serving in the Air Force during the later part of the Korean War, he earned a BA from Centre College, Danville, Ky., and his MD from Duke University. He completed his internship in psychiatry at Queen's Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii and his residency in psychiatry at the University of Washington's School of Medicine.
Later on, Dr. Fisher earned a master's degree in Public Health also from the University of Washington. He was a member of both the American Psychiatric Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Dr. Fisher spent the early years of his career in Washington and Hawaii providing Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. He acquired dual citizenship from New Zealand in 1985 in order to accept several governmental positions culminating in his appointment as Deputy Director of Mental Health Services in Wellington.
In 1997-1998, Dr. Fisher served as Director of Adult Mental Health Programs at Rockhampton Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia, and in that capacity frequently provided mental services to patients in the Outback.
Throughout his career, through his affiliation with the World Health Organization, Dr. Fisher made numerous trips abroad to assist in the development of HIV and AIDS outreach programs, as well as alcohol and drug abuse services in local communities throughout Southeast Asia and the islands of the South Pacific.
Early on he served as head of the United Nations team combating drug abuse on the Marianna Islands, living on the island of Truk.
Robert Burton Fisher, MD
From 1992 to 1997 he was employed by Vanderbilt University's Medical School serving as Medical Director for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and from 1998 to 2006 by Tulane University's Medical School serving as Medical Director for the Louisiana Office of Mental Health.
Most recently he was employed by the Dartmouth Medical School working at the Riverview Hospital in Augusta as a Forensic Psychiatrist
Dr. Fisher was predeceased by his parents; and his sister, Marjorie Ann (Fisher) Ransome and her husband John Fry Ransome. He is survived by his wife Diane (Landry) Fisher; one daughter, Chloe Lianne Fisher; two step-sons, Nicholas Chappell and wife Remy, and Daniel Chappell and wife Jaclyn; and step-grandson, Landon Chappell. He is also survived by his twin brother, Charles Granville Fisher and wife Patricia; his nieces, Blair E. Weaver, Barbara Ransome, Sara Lugo and Meredith Sacks, one nephew, Adam Granville Fisher; four great-nieces, Emma Sacks, Delaney Sacks, Lyla Fisher and Anya Fisher, and one great- nephew, Cooper Sacks.
A funeral service with the Holy Eucharist will be held at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, 43 Foreside Rd., Falmouth, on Saturday, May 14, 2011, at 11 a.m. Reception to follow at the Parish Guild Hall. Arrangements are under the guidance of Independent Death Care, 660 Brighton Ave., Portland. To offer words of condolence, sign a guest book and/or share memories of Robert, go to the obituary page at www.independentdeathcare.com.
The family has requested
that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Holt International Adoption Services
Post Office Box 2880
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.HoltInternational.org