Eugene Fisher Obituary

Eugene John Fisher

Resident of Los Gatos

Beloved husband, father and Santa Clara University Professor Eugene Fisher passed away peacefully at his home on July 17, 2010. He was 85 years old.

He was born and raised in San Francisco. He served in the US Army during WW II in England and France. He graduated from Santa Clara University in 1950 in Mechanical Engineering and later got a MS degree from Stanford. He married his wife Rita in 1952.

He is survived by his wife and children, Kathleen and (Bruce) Patrick, Lois Anne, Margaret and (Mark) Stanish, Tim and (Lois Jean) Fisher and Dan Fisher, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren and his sister, Olivia.

He began his career as a design engineer at Dalmo Victor and continued at FMC. In 1954 he was invited to teach in the Mechanical Engineering Dept at Santa Clara University. This was the beginning of a 37 year career in which he dedicated himself to developing students into engineers and young adults into responsible professionals. In 1991 he received the University's Brutocao Award in recognition of his overall teaching excellence in the Jesuit tradition. He was a dedicated volunteer helping wherever needed at St Mary's Church, Habitat for Humanity, Billy Jones Railroad and any friend with a project. He will be remembered for his good humor, perpetual smile and trademark bow tie. He will be dearly missed.

Memorial services will be held at St. Mary's Church, Los Gatos on Friday, July 23 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity or Sacred Heart Community Services.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Jul. 21, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Eugene Fisher

11 Entries

JP Lapeyre

November 20, 2024

Please bear with me, while I give a little context to these belated condolences, sharing of memories and gratitude.

I am sitting here watching an MIT course on YouTube and it's quite well done. The instructor is teaching intro to a programming language. She's much better than average; articulates ideas clearly and is engaged with her students. More than you could typically expect from a college professor in 2024. My thoughts immediately went to:

"She's very good, but she's no Eugene Fisher..." :-)

Mind you, I haven't thought about Professor Fisher in OVER 30 years, but that is how memorable this man was. Indelible impact. Incredible teacher.

His legacy lives on in so many. If we ever need some inspiration on how to really engage with people that we are teaching, we all need only think back to our days at SCU and Professor Fisher. I told my son when he was preparing for his first semester at University; that the biggest mistake I made was not going to visit my professors during their office hours.

This is especially true for Professor Fisher. Wish I had taken the opportunity...

Thanks Professor Fisher; for giving it all every day. I'm sorry I didn't say it at the time, but in some ways it's more meaningful some 40 years later. I hope your family gets to see this. But even so, it's out there now and I'm sure you know it.

With eternal gratitude,
Rest In Peace

Edward De St Remey

July 14, 2022

I must say that Mr. Fisher was my favorite professor at Santa Clara University. I have recently retired and still remember how animated his lectures were. He was magically engaging all of us and as a bonus, educating us. Rest In Peace sir.

Larry Lauro

July 15, 2020

Gene was a kind, gentle and loving man. He was a man who was affirming and supportive of those he came into contact with. He was empowering. He and Rita also were deeply involved in accompanying the marginalized peoples of the world. They were willing to learn about structures of injustice and then work to redirect them if possible and dismantle them if necessary. Jill and I are proud to call them companions in our justice work as well as friends.

timothy Bashaw

June 21, 2011

I had just found out today, almost 1 year later and I am in shock. In 1963 Jean and his wife Rita stood up for me as my Godparents. Soon after my family had moved away, and I had only spoken to them over the phone a few short times. Today I had found a photo of my baptism, and started to call them. I looked up Jean Fisher as his name was on the back of the photo, and had found that he had passed away last year. My thoughts go out to Rita, and their family. He will be missed.
With respect.
Timothy M. Bashaw

Fred Klose

July 26, 2010

I only just heard of his passing this morning - I'm sorry I was not able to make the funeral. Mr. Fisher was, and always will be for me, a part of the fabric of my life. As one of the "rocks" of both St. Mary's Church, and the Los Gatos 4H club when I was young, he taught me things that I pass on to my children, and they will to theirs. Although slight of stature (at least from a Klose perspective!)he was a giant of a man!
My deepest sympathies to the Fishers.
Fred Klose

July 23, 2010

Dear Rita and Family: Jill and I were privileged to know you and Gene through your work and interest in helping the poor. Gene will always be remembered for his support of Rita in this regard as week as his own passion for justice! While he took the issues seriously, Gene also managed to keep his joy and humor which was his disarming quality. His smile and goodness will be missed. Rest in peace, Gene, you have earned it. Love Larry and Jill Lauro

Bob Norris

July 21, 2010

Gene Fisher was a special person to me, our family and the countless
students and friends whose lives he touched and, in so many cases, shaped. He will be missed, but left his indelible mark on a world that is a tad better for all that he passed on to it and the warmth he shared with so many.

Gene represented what many could only aspire to with his amazing variety of abilities. “Fish” was one impressive guy -- for his knowledge, his interests, and the way he carried through seemingly endless projects for family, friends and community, always with a wonderful, wry sense of humor. He guided me through changes in my life’s path, encouraging me to learn something about the mysteries of the computer, then venture into the Mercury’s IBM Room and my occupation for the next 20 years.

Thank you, Gene.

Bob Bresniker

July 21, 2010

A couple of months ago - for the 50th Reunion for the SCU Class of '60 - I noted a "favorite memory" as the excellent Prof's in the ME Dept. At the head-of-the-class was "Gene (Bowtie) Fisher." And, we were fortunate to know the Fishers at St Mary's for the past 40 years. And, thanks for guiding me through that PE Exam Gene. Bob B SCU BSME '60, MS '70, PE (ret'd).

Carol Tunney

July 21, 2010

Dear Rita and all,
How I wish I could be with you all on Friday to celebrate the life of a great man.
I'm so glad I was able to say goodbye to him last Sunday and give him a kiss and a hug.
He gave me so many hugs over the years especially when I was getting my degrees. I knew from the beginning of our friendship not to ask "how come",not that I would.
I loved him so and we all have some great memories and photos.
You are all in my prayers,
fondly, Carol

Jim Wilson

July 21, 2010

The Fish is among a small handful of teachers influential in my life. Other old MEs like me will remember his admonition "you've got to STRUGGLE!" and the famous ditty...do you remember the ditty? sssiiiiiiggggggghhh, forehead on desk, then pops up and tells the student "Project from this view, and MEASURE from the next previous view." And running through the halls: my friend made him a pair of "retractable track spikes" so he wouldn't slip as he came to sudden, necessary stops. I made myself an "I Have Struggled" button.
What a guy, what an inspiration, what a great influence he has had on so many young MEs.
I never talked to him after graduation, but I often missed him. Particularly when I run into my special button.

Dick Volpe

July 21, 2010

My dearest Rita and family:
What a great and honorable man Gene was! He was the greatest volunteer I have ever known. He could do anything and everything. Most of all, he had time to listen and talk to his friends. His magnetic smile and joy for life is captured in his memorial picture. Gene and I often talked about his teaching career at SCU. He invited me a couple of times to join him for lunch at the Faculty Club. I never did make it. Damn! Gene brought great honor and prestige to the art of teaching. I wonder how many hundreds of ME students carry warm and endearing memories of having had Professor Gene as their teacher. I know for certain that they learned a lot more than just mechanical engineer from him. They learned about life and what is means to live it to the fullest. I know Gene did. I will miss him dearly and can't wait to see him again someday when I'll offer to take him to lunch!!

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