Elizabeth Fischer

Elizabeth Fischer, a life-long resident of New Orleans, died on Monday, April 20, 2015 following a lengthy illness. Born Elizabeth Lee Nicholson on September 1, 1927, she was the daughter of Yorke Poitevent Nicholson and Amie Dove Boyd.

Elizabeth attended Isidore Newman School and Sophie Newcomb College where she was in the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Elizabeth was an Art major at Newcomb where she had the privilege of studying under Will Henry Stevens. She made her debut into society during the 1947/1948 season. She was a maid in several courts and reigned as Queen of Carnival in 1948. Elizabeth married Ashton J. Fischer on June 25, 1949. He was her one true love and they were together until his death in 1987.

Elizabeth was a devoted and loving wife and mother but still found time to be active both socially and civically. Ashton and Elizabeth enjoyed New Orleans society and made a very handsome couple about town. She was President of The Junior League of New Orleans for the 1967/1968 term. She served as President of The Christian Woman’s Exchange, now named the Hermann-Grima House. Elizabeth was also on the boards of Ochsner Foundation Hospital, Louise S. McGehee School, WYES-TV, St. Anna’s Home and Trinity Episcopal School. Elizabeth was passionately interested in the history of New Orleans and its future. She was proud of her family’s strong ties to the city, which included the ownership of The Picayune Newspaper and the innovative work her grandmother Eliza Jane Poitevent Nicholson did as publisher of The Picayune.

Elizabeth was a member of The Colonial Dames of American and was a former Queen of The Mystic Club. She was a lifelong lover of books, particularly mysteries, and an avid world traveler. She felt a strong connection to the Mississippi River and loved watching the ships go past her window. Elizabeth loved to laugh and had a keen sense of humor, which she maintained until the end of her life.

Elizabeth was pre-deceased by her three siblings: Amie Boyd Nicholson; Yorke P. Nicholson, Jr. and Eleanor Nicholson Corbin, as well as her son Ashton J. Fischer, Jr. Survivors include daughters Amie Fischer Paul (Graham) of Asheville, NC and E. Nicholson “Nicki” Fischer Faust (LeDoux) of this city. She will be greatly missed by grandchildren David and Eliza Paul of Asheville and Carey and Emily Faust of this city.

There will be a small family service at Trinity Chapel followed by a private interment at Metairie Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a memorial gathering at St. Anna’s at Lambeth House on Monday, April 27 at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Hermann-Grima House or The Historic New Orleans Collection.