Dr. T. Forrest Fisher

Dr. Thomas Forrest Fisher, 90, of Green Ridge (Aston), Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2025 - his birthday - at Lankenau Hospital. Known affectionately as “Forrest” (or “Doc” by his colleagues), Forrest was a man of great faith, intelligence, generosity, and spirit. His zest for life and appreciation for humanity will be remembered by all, especially those he leaves behind: his children, Victoria Leigh, and Geoffrey ( Jenny); grandchildren Abigail Fisher-Foltz (William) and Charles Slackway; and great-grandchild, Violet Valentina Foltz (age 2). He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Victoria (née Rutkowski), and survived by his loving partner, Marianne O’Neill of Paoli, PA, along with her loving and vast family, including children Heather Coghlan (Brendan), Patrick O’Neill (Dawn), Chip O’Neill, and Katie McFadden ( JP). Her grandchildren, beloved by Forrest, include Calie (Alex Mack), Molly and Annie Coghlan, Liam and Maggie O’Neill, and Seamus, Carly and Ruairi McFadden.

Forrest was born in 1935, to the late Edna and Thomas Fisher. He attended Media High School (Class of ‘53), Temple University School of Pharmacy (’57), then graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine from Georgetown University in 1961. He went on to serve in the United States Public Health Service, part of the Navy at the time, then became a trauma surgeon, based in Chicago, later continuing in Pittsburgh at US Steel. His mission caring for others led him to become the Chief Medical Director for Campbell Soup in Camden, NJ, and its subsidiaries worldwide, where he championed plant safety and the health of thousands of workers. A true “man of the people”, Forrest was respected for his fairness, open-heartedness, and commitment to standards benefitting all. His accomplishments are too many to list, yet his character too humble to admit.

Before and after retirement, Forrest devoted his time and energy to his communities, both housing and Church. He was an active parishioner at St. Norbert’s in Paoli, and a passionate, reliable, and steadfast volunteer for Saint Gabriel’s Food Cupboard in South Philadelphia. He had a deeply humble desire to help the poor, and ensure the basic needs of those around him in numerous ways. In addition to being an honorable role model in faith and action, Forrest was a source of wisdom, certain humor, and witty joy, particularly for his great granddaughter, Violet (who has since declared she will “become a doctor like Popsie”).

Forrest, a lifelong learner ready to admit fault and perpetually grow in his faith, loved to travel the world, immersing himself in many cultures and history. His spirit was resilient, his gratitude is infectious, and his love for God and the Holy Spirit is profound. Forrest lived a life of virtue, commitment, and purpose, and his family takes comfort in knowing he will be welcomed into Eternal Life by God, Jesus, and those he loved who went before him.

A viewing will be held at St. Norbert Parish, (6 Greenlawn Rd., Paoli, PA) from 9:00 - 10:30am on Friday, September 26, 2025, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial (funeral) at 10:30am. He will be buried at St. Thomas the Apostle (Glen Mills, PA), with luncheon to follow for all.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Forrest’s honor to the Food Pantry at Saint Gabriel, located at 2917 Dickinson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146.

Lastly, please sign the guestbook! A memory, quality you admired in Forrest, anything would be a joy to read by all of us. Thank you to all!