Stanley Morton Fisher

Stanley Morton Fisher Beachwood, OH Naples, FL

Stanley Morton Fisher of Naples, FL and Beachwood, OH served on sever al federal panels, won several inaugural awards, and led two national groups of lawyers. He was a member of both the Florida and Ohio Bars. Stan Fisher died Friday, January 28, 2011 at home in Beachwood, OH at age 82.

Fisher's son, Lee, former Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Ohio Attorney General, said, "He should have been the one to run for public office. He was so outgoing and warm- hearted, he'd go into a store, ask the clerk their story, and immediately do something to help."

"He was a proud father, a principled lawyer and an enthusiastic civic leader," said former Ohio Governor Dick Celeste.

Stan Fisher's achievements were a series of firsts. First National President of the Federal Bar Association from Ohio; first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association; first Life Member of the Judicial Conference of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He helped double the membership of the Federal Bar Association, persuading it to stage more events outside Washington, D.C., and to widen its ranks from federal employees to any lawyers handling federal matters.

He also served as the National President of the American Counsel Association and a Life Member of the National Uniform Law Commission (after being appointed by three Ohio Governors). He served on national committees that updated the federal uniform trust code, securities act, limited partnership act, and commercial code. He testified about these codes to several state legislatures. He published many articles and taught at Cleveland State University ClevelandMarshall College of Law. In 1995, President Clinton appointed Fisher to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which helps in negotiations with federal workers.

After graduating from Oberlin College and University of Michigan Law School, he clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, first with Chief Judge Charles Simons and later for Judge Potter Stewart before Stewart was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fisher worked in several prominent Cleveland law firms, including Ulmer, Berne; Guren, Merritt; and Arter and Hadden. He handled antitrust, corporate litigation, estates and more. From 1971 to 1974, he was also special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General. He finished his career as Of Counsel with Budish, Solomon, Steiner and Peck, led by former Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish.

Stan Fisher was perhaps most proud of being the starting offensive right tackle on the undefeated, untied 1944 New Philadelphia High School Quaker football team. His football coach his freshman year was Woody Hayes, before Hayes went to coach at the Ohio State University. In 2006, Fisher was honored by the New Philadelphia City Schools Quaker Foundation with the Special Alumnus Achievement Award.

He had a speaking part in 1995 as a judge in a TV movie "Escape From Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story." He was well known for his sense of humor. Sometimes, when asked by a new acquaintance what he did for a living, he would deadpan, "I'm an actor."

He liked to bicycle, golf and play tennis.

He outlived his first wife, the former Elaine "Boots" Rosenthal, and is survived by his second wife, Beverly Ludwig Fisher.

Survivors, wife, Beverly Ludwig Fisher of Bentwater Circle, Naples, FL; children, Lee of Shaker Heights, OH; Barbara of Los Angeles, CA; Richard of San Francisco, CA; and Suzanne of Shaker Heights, OH; stepchildren, Jodi Ludwig Boyette of Peachtree City, GA; Cathy Ludwig Kahan of Stratham, NH, and Tracey Ludwig Weingarten of Carlsbad, CA; and 13 grandchildren, Jason, Jessica, Zachary, Kyle, Kate, Ry, Emma, Aidan, Elias, Gabriel, Cameron, Alex and Lanie.

Services were held at Suburban Temple -Kol Ami, 22401 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, Monday, January 31, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements were made by Berkowitz-KuminBookatz Funeral Home, 1985 South Taylor Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH; 216-932-7900

Contributions are suggested to the Stanley M. Fisher Memorial Fund, to any of the following charities:

"Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Beachwood Oncology Nursing Fund, Attn.: Dr. Omer Koc, P.O. Box 931517 Cleveland, OH 44193-1655

"Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Chapter, P.O. Box 16562 Columbus, OH 43216

"The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, 111 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 1010 Chicago, IL 60602