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David Fischer Obituary
February 18,1939 – November 22, 2016
David Joseph Fischer passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on November 22, 2016, in San Francisco. David was born in Connecticut, moved to Minneapolis with his family, where he attended the Blake School. He graduated from Brown University and attended Harvard Law School.A career diplomat, David joined the Foreign Service in 1961. Over the course of his 30-year career, David and his family lived in Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Nepal, Tanzania, and the Seychelles. A high point in his career was participating in the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty with the Soviet Union, and assisting with German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
David moved to San Francisco in 1991 to begin his second career as the Executive Director of the World Affairs Council, where he served until becoming Diplomat-in-Residence at San Francisco State University in 1998. A narrative of David Fischer's diplomatic career is chronicled in an extensive oral history archived at San Francisco State (The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project.) A superb and colorful story-teller, Fischer shared his tales generously. He believed deeply in the importance of the public's understanding of foreign policy issues and his stories were as entertaining as they were educational. An accomplished cook, David loved nothing more than sharing good conversation with friends over a delicious meal.
David Fischer is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pamela (née Popkin), an active docent with the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, son Mark of San Francisco, son Keith and daughter-in-law Stephanie Schmelcher-Maendle of Munich, Germany, daughter Anne and son-in-law Nathaniel Gleason, MD of San Francisco and three grandsons, Jeremy Fischer of Munich, and Ben and Max Gleason of San Francisco, and brother Keith Fischer of Santa Monica.
A celebration of David's life is pending. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you please donate to NAMI San Francisco.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David Fischer
3 Entries
j harvey
January 24, 2018
RIP Amb. Fischer
He was a great Professor, great class, very informative.
He gave us a different perspective on Politics.
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Maggie Mamer
December 10, 2016
David was the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Northern California when I joined his staff. He was a man who cared deeply for many communities, did many acts of good works in this world and who will be sorely missed. RIP David! My condolences to Pam and your children and grandchildren...
Talant Sultanov
December 8, 2016
Ambassador Fischer was one of my most favorite professors at SFSU. I feel privileged to have heared his lectures and funny stories. My condolences to his family and close ones.
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