Linda McLucas Fisher

Dr. Linda Lee McLucas Fisher passed away at her home on June 20, 2026 surrounded by her beloved family and objets d’art. The Jacksonville community has lost a cultural and humanities evangelist and philanthropist who helped broaden the minds of many. She was a role model and champion of women’s advancement.

The only child of Leonard Lee “Whitey” McLucas and Margaret Cox McLucas, the family celebrated her first birthday in their new Murray Hill home on Attleboro Street after moving from Sanford in 1943. McLucas lettered in three sports and led the Gators as quarterback in their winning 1930 season before coaching at Robert E. Lee High School then serving as Duval County Supervisor of Health & Physical Education while also Executive Director of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association for two decades. Her mother taught American History at Lee for more than twenty five years.

Linda attended Ruth N. Upson Elementary, John Gorrie Junior High School and was a 1960 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. She studied ballet with Thelma Baggs, had piano and elocution lessons and sang in the choir at Riverside Presbyterian. Linda had a lifelong equine love with equestrian lessons on her own horse. She was a maid in the May Day Fete court and member of the IDS sorority. After her beloved father’s passing, Linda enjoyed many years of closeness and travel with her widowed mother.

Linda left Jacksonville for her mother’s alma mater, Wheaton College in Norton, MA, earning a degree in English and Literature. Her Master’s degree was earned at Boston University. Upon returning to Jacksonville, Fisher taught briefly at Andrew Jackson High School before teaching at the “new” Florida Junior College (now Florida State College at Jacksonville) Kent Campus in 1968. Around that time she attended a concert at the Cummer Museum where she spied her future husband, young attorney and CPA, Michael W. Fisher. They married in Neptune Beach in 1969.

The Fishers moved to their first Avondale home and in 1972 and welcomed daughter Laura Lee in 1974. After their son Michael Medill was born in 1977, they moved to their current Avondale home. Over the decades the couple belonged to the Florida Yacht Club, Ponte Vedra Club, River Club, Seminole Club and Ye Mystic Revellers. The self deemed “Secular Humanist”, was a lifelong member of Riverside Presbyterian Church, frequently attending musical concerts with her students (who often made up the majority of the audience) and enjoyed her women’s Circle.

Fisher completed her doctorate at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Her passion for public school education earned her a reputation among students, colleagues and the community as one of Jacksonville’s most cherished educators. The hallmark of her career was her expansion of traditional college instruction with her own creativity and enthusiasm. It was a fact that Dr. Fisher’s classes filled quickly. She treasured her students of diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences. She joked upon retirement that she’d taught everyone on the Westside so it was time to retire.

Fisher invited guest speakers to her humanities courses with expertise in each region of World Literature or History she taught: Greek, Arabic and Italian literature translations, Art History, World Philosophies, World Religions and Music Appreciation among others. She was interested in more than mastery of course content; she sought life knowledge, enrichment and arts exposure through first-hand experiences for students. The self described “Culture Vulture” offered extra credit for field trips to cultural events, art exhibitions, musical concerts, authentic food experiences, museums and even the Ebony Fashion Fair. Her own home and collections from world travel became an exciting extension of her classroom by hosting student luncheon scavenger hunts while sampling food from the cultures being studied. Decades later students remember being invited to her home and her stylist dress.

Linda’s philosophy was school should be for a broader experience than getting a job. She attended more than 100 free cultural events a year with her students, often taking class role after the event. She recruited prominent speakers for her classes.

Linda retired after teaching at the Kent Campus from 1968 to 2006. She set up a legacy for scholarships upon her departure. In 2025 she and Michael celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. The couple long supported multiple community, history and arts organizations. They traveled Europe, enjoyed their Cresent Beach condominium, walking their neighborhood and sharing their collection of Florida period maps and prints with various cultural institutions. Proud of her Scottish heritage, Linda attempted Ben Nevis in heels. Visiting perfume pharmacies in Rome, Paris and Grasse she required her husband to be her nose when her sense of smell was dulled by a cold.

Since childhood, Linda was a member of the Friday Musicale later serving as president. She was a board member of the Delius Association of Florida, Civic Music Association and Opera Repertory Guild. Proud of her Southern and Florida pioneer roots, she was an active member of the UDC and DAR. For years she participated in the Cummer’s Music and Museum Committees and Ponce de Leon Society. Linda was also a supporter and volunteer for WJCT and Planned Parenthood for many decades.

Her style was legendary. The self dubbed “Material Girl” made an Olympic sport of shopping the best deals for colorful, glitzy attire and accessories, often incorporating hats and costume jewelry frequently given away upon a compliment. Pomeranians, perfume and print publications were also passions of hers - preferably enjoyed all at once. Her taste for fine objet d’art and jewels did not extend to spirits as bottom shelf bourbon was her drink of choice.

Outside her professional role as an educator, “Mama Lee” was a wife, mother and grandmother leaving husband Michael Watson Fisher, son Michael Medill Fisher (Amy), daughter Laura Lee (Leon), two grandchildren Charity Lee Fisher and Arran Corbett, and sister-in-law Kate Fisher Levitz. A celebration of life will be held at the Friday Musicale on September 12th at noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Linda McLucas Fisher Scholarship via the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.