John William Fisher

OCTOBER 2, 1938 – MARCH 10, 2023

John William Fisher, 84, of Altamonte Springs, Florida passed away on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Born on October 2, 1938 in Jamaica Hospital on Long Island. John (also known as Pop-pop to his beloved grandchildren) was the oldest of four children of Marie Margaret Fisher and Gerald Desmond Fisher who lived in Stewart Manor at the time. The family moved to Pennsylvania and John attended York Catholic High School where he was Senior Class President. John attended Villanova University and then University of Illinois where he met Gail Ann Knickerbocker and then graduated with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Gail and John married and moved to San Jose, California where he began his career at Lockheed and started their family. They eventually moved to Orlando, Florida where John worked for Martin Marietta as an engineer and program manager. John developed high technology systems such as ADATS (Air-Defense Anti-Tank System ) and LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night). This work took him to many interesting places such as White Sands Missile Range and Zürich, Switzerland where Gail also occasionally met him. While working at Martin full-time, John completed all of his coursework towards a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida which was only thwarted by the birth of their fourth child who turned out to be twins growing the Fisher family to seven! After retiring from Martin Marietta, John finished his career working for Coleman Engineering as a Vice President of Engineering.

John had many adventures with several lifelong friends who all became Eagle Scouts together. He was also a capable athlete throughout his life, serving as captain of York Catholic varsity high school basketball team, playing for various company basketball and softball teams and several decades of excellent tennis. John’s children and grandchildren have many fond memories of shooting baskets and playing games of HORSE with him in the driveway. His interest in sports extended to body surfing and fishing and he continued to fish in later years in Ormond Beach where he spent many weekends with Gail. Summers in Ormond with Gramma Gail and Pop-pop will always hold a special place in the hearts of their 11 grandchildren. After retirement, John spent more time golfing, regularly shooting in the 80’s.

When John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the early 2000s, Gail and John jumped in with both feet to fight the disease. With Gail by his side, John participated in more than five trials at the University of Florida’s movement disorder clinic. Gail joined the board of the Parkinson Association of Central Florida and they both participated in the Pedaling for Parkinson’s group at the Crosby Wellness Center. John and Gail regularly expressed thanks for John’s neurologist Dr. Ramon Rodriguez for his many years of treatment and support.

Despite the challenges of Parkinson’s, John continued to describe himself as very blessed and regularly expressed thanks for his wonderful family and especially for his wife Gail who he was thankful for putting up with him. John played a good game of poker throughout his life and delivered quick one-liners through his last days. He was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church for almost 60 years. Until recently, he and Gail brought communion to hospitalized and homebound members of the church.

John will be remembered for his dry wit, intelligence and his unfailing love for his wife Gail of 60 years. His gentle and distinctive voice with its New York origins tempered by Pennsylvania, Illinois and Florida will long be remembered by those who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his brother Gerald Desmond Fisher Jr. and his sister Mary Geraldine Fisher. He is survived by his wife Gail, his brother Dennis (Cyndi), children Maureen Andersen (Joe), John Fisher III (Anita), Stephanie Paymayesh (Bob), Tracy Wright (Trey), Tim Fisher (Mae) and grandchildren Grace Andersen, Leif Andersen, Simon Fisher, Eleanor Fisher, Camille Fisher, Hannah Paymayesh, Juliette Paymayesh, Kian Paymayesh, Liam Paymayesh, Charlie Wright and Timothy Wright.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs, Florida on Friday March 31 at 10:00 AM. A reception will be held immediately following the mass at Maitland Presbyterian Church in Maitland, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Parkinson Association of Central FL

P. O. Box 3337, Winter Park, Florida, 32790

In Memory of John Fisher.

http://www.parkinsoncf.org/donate