Matthew Fisher of Natick, MA entered into eternal rest on December 1, 2022 at the age of 86. He was the last member of his generation. He was born in Boston to Harry and Rose (Stern) Fisher and was brother to Melvin and Fay (Galben) Fisher, all deceased. He married the love of his life and best friend Nancy (Hamilton) Fisher in 1997 and they shared a love for their German Shepherds Bandit, Moshup and Wilson over their many years together. Beloved father of Laura Marshard and her husband Bruce of West Tisbury, Daniel Fisher of Berlin, Germany and Suzanne Fisher of Boca Raton, Florida. Loving “Gampy” to Jack and Charlotte Marshard of West Tisbury; and uncle to Naomi and Susan Fisher of Newton.
Matt graduated from Newton High School in 1954. He was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi at Boston University where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. A pioneer in the automobile leasing industry, Matt was 26 when he and his partner, Harry Madoff, founded Highway Leasing. The company went on to achieve great success and served as a model for the developing auto leasing business, for example they provided 24/7 road service which was unique at that time. Because of the reputation he built over the years, Matt became an independent vehicle broker under his own name (Matt Fisher Leasing) when Highway Leasing was sold in the early ‘90s. He continued to provide unique service to his customers well into his 80’s based on two premises: making the buying or leasing experience a hassle-free pleasant one and his ability to save his customers money. Most of his customers were people who has used his services for 20, 30 even 40 years – drawn to Matt’s honesty and skill at making getting a new car a pleasant experience.
Matt became a friend of Bill W. when he was 49 years old. In subsequent years he devoted himself to helping others as he had been helped, reaching out with empathy and compassion. In recovery he worked every day to become a better person and there was no better friend when in crisis than Matt. He befriended many and left this life a better place – someone who really found satisfaction and fulfillment in giving back to the community. He was a valued friend to many, someone who always was more interested in others than himself, and eager to help people overcome their problems.
He volunteered at the Violet Tutuny Food Pantry in Natick for many years and was a member of the Garden City Lodge. Matt’s Jewish heritage was very important to him and he and his first wife, Normal Fogel, were one of the founding families of Temple Beth Avodah in Newton.
Matt had a curious mind and a life-long love of learning and avidly read the Boston Globe and New York Times daily. He was a steadfast Boston sports fan and followed his beloved Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox his entire life. He had season tickets to the Patriots and Celtics for many years, and treasured taking his grandson, Jack, to their yearly Patriot’s game.
For many years Matt took classes at the LifeLong Learning Center at Regis College in Weston where he loved discussing politics and history in his classes. He was especially interested in WWII and the Holocaust. Matt also regularly participated in current events discussion groups at the Community and Senior Center in Natick.
Matt and Nancy loved to travel and shared many exciting adventures in the United States, Europe and Israel. After Nancy retired they spent time in the Sunny Isles Beach/Hollywood area of Florida every winter, enjoying the warmer weather and visiting friends and family. Matt always loved the beach and was a summer resident on Martha’s Vineyard for ma years, passing along this love for the beach and ocean to his children.
During the last two years, Matt was challenged by many health problems. However, he kept bouncing back – always determined to live the life he wanted. Even at the end, when he hadn’t eaten for weeks, he made lists of food that he wanted to eat when he could. He was blessed with much love and devotion of family and many friends which gave him great comfort and peace in his final days. As his friend Al said, ’he was a monument of a man.’
Funeral Service will be held at 1pm on Dec. 6th at Temple Beth Avodah, 45 Puddingstone Ln. Newton followed by internment in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, MA. Memorial Observance will be at the Fisher home after the internment and on Dec. 7th from 11am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in his name can be made to the Division of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction at McLean Hospital in Belmont or the Palliative Care Program at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.
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