Walter Clifford Fisher

W. Clifford Fisher, of Cotuit, MA, formerly of Dover, Wellesley, Needham, and Newton, MA, passed away on February 28, 2017, nine days after reaching his 92nd birthday and following a long battle with cancer. Cliff was born on February 19, 1925, in East Longmeadow, MA to the late George T. and Zilda L. (Knight) Fisher.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Helen A. (Zbikowski) Fisher, and their much loved beagle, Zoey. In addition to Helen, Cliff is survived by five children, W. Clifford Jr., of Brunswick, ME, Jeffrey, of Martha’s Vineyard, MA, daughter Leslie Terry (Rich) of Brewster, MA, Paul (Lisa) of Maine, and Nancy Tate (Tom) of Medfield, MA. Cliff is also survived by his children’s mother, Elinor M. (Newey) Fisher who resides in Yarmouth Port; grandchildren Julie Chavez(Abe) of Lutz, Florida, Matthew of NY, Eric (Elizabeth), Ryan, & Curtis Fisher of Martha’s Vineyard, Elea Terry of Brewster, and great-grandchildren Mila and Lucca, of Lutz, FL and Regan of Martha's Vineyard.

Cliff’s oldest brother, Reverend Doctor George F. Fisher, pre-deceased him in late 2015 at the age of 100. He is survived by his sisters, Grace N. Thompson, of Scarborough, ME, Daphne E. Shaub (Bill), of Ewing, NJ, and was pre-deceased by his youngest brother, Rodney E. Fisher (Robyn) of Melbourne, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

Cliff graduated from Newton North High School in 1943, and from Northeastern University, with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Management in 1956. He was a member of Pi Tau Kappa fraternity at Northeastern.

Cliff was a Navy veteran of World War II, in the Medical Corp, serving as a Pharmacist Mate First Class in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Greece and Southern France. During the Korean War he was stationed in Newport, RI and Chelsea, MA Naval Hospitals.

Cliff started out his post-war career owning a photography business, Then, following the call of his medical interests, took a position in the Pharmacy Department of New England Deaconess Hospital where he spent the next 24 years, finishing there as Director of Purchasing. In 1970, Cliff assumed the role of Director of Materiel for the University of MA Medical School and Hospital in Worcester, MA. Cliff was heavily involved in the planning of the new facilities during the construction and completion of the medical school and hospital, as well as in administration. Cliff served as Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration until retirement in June, 1987.

Cliff was an active and proud member of the Masons, most recently of the Mariners Lodge in Cotuit.

Cliff and Helen enjoyed traveling in their free time visiting Paris, Germany, Italy, North Africa, the Tahitian Islands and various Caribbean Islands, but loved best the peace of Cape Cod. Cliff kept exceptionally productive during retirement , woodworking, working as a realtor, and as an active member of FEMA's disaster relief team. At 83, he organized and presided over the 49th regional chapter of the national Blinded Veteran’s Association for Cape Cod and the Islands, of which he was enormously proud.

A Celebration of his life will take place at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at Doane, Beal and Ames at 160 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601. Burial will follow immediately after at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Boston, at www.shrinershospitalforchildren.org/Boston, or by mail to 31 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, or the charity of choice. To send the Fisher family a message of condolence, please visit www.doanebealames.com.