MacGregor Fiske

MacGregor Fiske, a longtime newspaper editor, died on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston with his family at his side, two days after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Rochester. He enjoyed his passions of sailing, caring for his horse, and spending time with family and friends up until the day of the event.

Mr. Fiske came from a long line of newspapermen and spent much of his life in that business.

After graduating from Newton High School, in 1952, he enlisted in the Army to serve in the Korean War. After discharge, Mr. Fiske signed on as a merchant mariner aboard the USS President Polk and traveled to California by way of the Panama Canal. He returned to Boston to attend Northeastern University, picking up where he left off in high school as a pitcher on the baseball team. After a few semesters, he left school to join the Boston Harbor Pilots. He served as a crew member aboard the 137-foot, wooden, gaff-rigged schooner Roseway.

After two years on the Roseway Mr. Fiske, who had married in 1957, started as a sportswriter at The Framingham News. He soon became editor of the News's sports department which became recognized for outstanding coverage of hometown and professional sports. He later became city editor at the News's successor, The South Middlesex News.

In 1975, he joined the Providence Journal Co. as a copy editor where he worked mostly for the former Evening Bulletin until he retired in 1996. Following his retirement in Providence, Mr. Fiske returned to Framingham, copy editing three nights week at what is now The MetroWest Daily News until 2008.

MacGregor Fiske was born on April 18, 1934, in Newton, the only child of Richard Eldredge Fiske and Jean MacGregor Fiske.

Besides his wife, Mary, he leaves five children, Richard of New York City; Lauren, wife of David Brooks of West Brookfield; Jean Murray, wife of Stephen Murray of Lakeville; Charlene Fiske, wife of Robert Gato of Thompson, Conn.; and Jules McCann of Jamaica Plain; six grandchildren, Johanna Gassett, wife of Joseph Grover of Sturbridge; Abbigail Brooks of New York City; John Fiske of Thompson, Conn.; Elisabeth, Sean and Julia Murray of Lakeville; and two great-grandchildren, Landon and Oliver Grover. Mr. Fiske was formerly married to Mrs. David Fitzgerald of West Brookfield. His large and loving extended family includes members of the Marshall and Albret families, as well as in-laws in the Estridge, McCann, Skorupa and Wittreich families.

A memorial service will be held at The Seamen's Bethel, 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.