Dolores Horton Fisher

DOLORES HORTON FISHER 4-6-1936-13-2009 Dolores Horton Fisher, 72 years old. All have been used to describe Dolores "Deo" Fisher, widow of the late treasure hunter Mel Fisher, who lost her own battle with cancer Tuesday afternoon - 10 years and one month after her legendary husband succumbed to the same. Although she was born, and died, in Montana, Deo Fisher lived a waterlogged life on both coasts. Born Dolores Horton, she married the charismatic Mel Fisher in 1953 in California when she was 17. The young married couple embarked on Mel's dream of opening a shop that catered exclusively to the burgeoning population of recreational scuba divers, and Deo did her part to entice more female participants to the sport. Together, she and Mel taught an estimated 65,000 people how to dive. In August 1959, she broke the world's underwater endurance record by remaining submerged in a 10-foot-deep porpoise tank for more than 55 hours and 37 minutes using scuba equipment. The Vero Beach community met Deo Fisher when she arrived in the 1960's with Mel and their young family to begin a journey of fun, romance, and adventure of treasure hunting. This expedition led to the search for the Nuestra Senora de Atocha in the keys and they succesfully salvaged one of the richest Spanish Galleons of all times, and the search continues. "Her love for the ocean and all it contained was only surpassed by the love for her family," said Melissa Kendrick, executive director of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, which Deo helped found in 1982. "Many of the divers had come from broken families, and Deo was very much the mother of all of us, and we all thought of her that way. Said by Don Kincaid. Deo is survived by two sisters; Nadine Sotzin and Judy Staffen, three sons; Terry Fisher, Kim Fisher, and Kane Fisher, one daughter; Taffi Abt, eighteen grandchildren, and six great grand children. Her generous laugh and never ending optimism will be greatly missed by all. She was the most amazing women I ever knew. Said her daughter Taffi. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, in honor of Dolores's grandson who died of sudden cardiac arrest in 2006, donations be made to the Michael Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation at 1322 U.S. Highway One. Sebastian, FL 32958, or to the Hospice Foundation whom Dolores is forever grateful for. Services are yet to be determined but are sure to be held sometime in the coming months and will be posted at www.melfisher.com.