Franklin A. Fisher Sr.

1929 - 2025

Franklin A. Fisher Sr., a long time resident of Pittsfield, MA, died peacefully at age 96 after a brief illness.

Franklin was born in Albuquerque, NM to Esther Elizabeth Adams (Fisher) and Robert Felker Fisher of Cuba, NM, on July 29, 1929.

Mr. Fisher was always interested in electricity and often remarked that he knew what he wanted to do in life from a young age.

He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and graduated with a B.S. in electrical engineering.

He moved to Pittsfield in the 1950s where he worked at the General Electric High Voltage Laboratory.

Mr. Fisher was an expert on lightening protection of aircraft and transmission lines, and traveled extensively. He consulted for NASA on the space shuttle, as well as other spacecraft.

Franklin moved to Scotia, NY in 1978 to continue work at the High Voltage labs in Schenectady. After retiring from GE, Franklin returned to Pittsfield and worked with his long term associate, Andy Plumer at Lightening Technologies Inc. He was an IEEE fellow, and co-authored a NASA publication Lightening Protection of Aircraft in 1977.

For many years he was active in the First Congregational Church of Pittsfield. He enjoyed reading, traveling, learning programming languages, and tinkering with circuits.

He is survived by his wife Teresa Vismosko of Pittsfield, his son Franklin Fisher Jr. of Niskayuna, NY and his wife Linda Zahnleuter, daughter Priscilla Rafuse of Dennis, MA and her husband Stephen Rafuse Sr., as well as his grandchildren Benjamin Adams Fisher, Jack Karl Fisher, and Jarrad Rafuse.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral home services will be held, Monday, October 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield. Calling hours will precede the service from 4 to 7 p.m.