Ronald "Ron" C. Fisher

Born in Schenectady, New York, in 1950 to Bill and Agnes Fisher, Ron’s life was marked by commitment to family, academic excellence, and resilience.

He completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University in 1972, forging a lifelong bond with the university. After earning his PhD from Brown University, he returned to MSU, spending 49 years as a Professor of Economics. Ron impacted countless students, teaching courses from introductory economics to the economics of sports, and authored the respected textbook State and Local Public Finance. He served over a decade as Dean of the MSU Honors College and received the 2014 Steven D. Gold Award from the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, honoring his significant contributions to the field.

Ron loved playing the saxophone, performing in an adult jazz band. An avid sports fan, he rarely missed an MSU football, hockey, or basketball game and cherished coaching his son Charles’s youth ice hockey team. Deeply connected to nature, he enjoyed camping in the Adirondacks, visiting Michigan’s Ludington State Park, Lake Michigan’s beaches, and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

He prioritized family, keeping loved ones close through shared vacations and traditions. Family members fondly remember annual trips to visit relatives in New York, a tradition that strengthened their bonds. Ron is survived by his sons, Mike and Charles Fisher; his daughter-in-law, Chelsea Childs; his sister, Sue Vitolins; his brother, Ken Fisher, and sister-in-law, Evie Fisher; his beloved grandchildren, Liam, Penelope, and Rowan; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Uldis Vitolins.

Per Ron’s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held. Those wishing to honor his memory may make a donation to the MSU Honors College at https://honorscollege.msu.edu/alumni/make-a-gift/.