Memorial Video

Becca created a video of pictures of Dad which we played during reception following the service on Saturday. It's pretty cool and so I've posted it here so that those of you who could not make it to the service (or those of you who want to see it again) can have a look.

At the controls on a flight to the undiscovered country

The Celebration of Dad's life occurred yesterday. It was a wonderful ceremony with many friend and family in attendance. I'm going to try to post a few things from that ceremony here. In the mean time, I wanted to let all of you know that a guest columnist for the Boulder Daily Camera, Clay Evans, wrote an interesting column about Dad in today's Sunday edition of the paper. Entitled ,"At the controls on a flight to the undiscovered country," it is a well written piece about the choices Dad made at the end of his life. Thank you Clay.

Donations in Bill's Name - Details

If you are interested in making a donation in Bill's name to one of his three favorite community organizations, here is the detailed information:

Frasier Meadow's Employee Education Fund
c/o Kathy Pollicita, Director of Charitable Giving
Frasier Meadows Retirement Community
350 Ponca Place
Boulder, CO 80303

Muskingum College
Office of the President
163 Stormont Street
New Concord, OH 43762

Special Transit
c/o Mary Cobb, Director of Development
4880 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80301

Bill's Obituary

C. William "Bill" Fischer

1931 - 2009

C. William “Bill” Fischer, former Vice President for Budget and Finance at the University of Colorado, died on Thursday, August 13, at his home in Boulder, Colorado. He was 78 years old.

Born in Pittsburg, PA, in 1931, Bill met his wife, Betty Taylor Fischer, at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. The Fischers celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary on August 1.

Bill served the University of Colorado twice under four different University Presidents. He first served from 1981 to 1989 and then again from 1998 to 1999.

Bill had an exuberant approach to living which kept him going at top speed throughout his life. During his working career he worked long hours while still finding the time and energy to help raise four kids, take his family on incredible adventures, and travel with his wife. In retirement, he continued his busy schedule through volunteer service to a large number of community organizations. He and his wife travelled extensively, taking trips of up to nine weeks to some faraway places. He also returned to his childhood love of model airplanes. He built and flew several radio controlled planes and built numerous small models of World War II aircraft. His days were always full.

Bill had a lifelong commitment to public service. After graduating from college in 1953, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army for two years. Shortly thereafter, he began an eighteen year career of federal service during which he worked in various agencies including the U.S. Executive Office of the President, United States Bureau of the Budget and Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, and the U.S. Department of Energy. While at the Office of Management and Budget, Bill received an Advanced Studies Award Fellowship to Harvard University where he earned his Masters of Public Administration. At the end of his federal career, President Jimmy Carter appointed Bill as the First Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education for Planning and Budget.

Bill followed his federal service with an eighteen year career in higher education. In addition to his nine years of service to the University of Colorado, he served for a year as the Executive Vice President for Brandeis University and for eight years as the Senior Vice President for Business and Finance at Northwestern University.

Throughout his life, Bill dedicated his free time to various community organizations including as Clerk of the Session in his church and as a Boy Scout Scoutmaster. Bill also served on numerous community boards and committees. Most recently he served as Trustee for Muskingum College, Director and Treasurer for Frasier Meadows Manor Retirement Community, Director for Special Transit System of Boulder, Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Volunteer for Meals on Wheels, and Director of the Rotary Club of Boulder.

Bill was extremely proud of and dedicated to his family and his 56 year marriage to Betty Fischer. He is survived by his wife, four children and their spouses, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 PM at the Mountain View United Methodist Church, 355 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO.

In lieu of flowers, and because of Bill’s passion for service to his community, the family requests that remembrances be made to one of his favorite organizations: Muskingum College, Frasier Meadows Manor Employee Education Fund, or Special Transit of Boulder.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life service to remember Bill will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 PM at the Mountain View United Methodist Church, 355 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO.



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Journey's End

Bill ended this stage of his journey early in the morning on August 13.

At the end he was at ease and Betty, Ruth, Rick, Kim, Mark, Beth and Rebecca were with him as he put a period on his life.

We would appreciate it if you would not send flowers. As you know, Dad had a life long passion for service to his community. If you would like to honor Dad's memory, we request that you make a donation to one of his favorite community organizations: Muskingum College, Fraiser Meadows Manor Employee Education Fund, or Special Transit of Boulder.

Information about a Celebration of Life service will be announced at a later date and we will continue to post remembrances of Dad here.

A Message from Chuck Gandy

Chuck Gandy and I were the same age growing up through elementary school, junior high and high school. He lived just blocks from our house in College Park. Although we haven't seen each other a lot in the last 30 years, we have stayed in touch through periodic Christmas cards, phone calls and emails. This evening he sent the following email.

My dad (Charles Gandy Sr.) recounted a story this past weekend of one of our Troop 228 WV camping trips (bacpacking, I think, circa 1969), where a BEAR came into camp at 3 AM, and un-latched the bear-proof trash cans :-) which the Park Rangers had buried in concrete with heavy lids. Our dads were tenting together. They had to dress, roll out, stare down the bear with flashlights, and make a racket so it'd leave. They endangered themselves to protect us. Typical, for our fathers.

Aside from my own father and grandfathers, there is no man who has had a more pronounced, positive influence on my life than C. Wm. Fischer, Scoutmaster, BSA Troop 228, College Park MD. I still remember the first time my misbehavior needed discipline, and your dad made me dig a 3 ft cube trash pit. I rapidly learned a good lesson. Once completed, I was fully forgiven, and back in the fold. Well, I was never really pushed out of the fold --just encouraged to do better.

I remember clearly the charge he gave me at my Life Scout Court of honor. He focused on life, living, making a life for ourselves. Made an impression on a 14 year old, which I still carry today 39 years later. Positive encouragement. Your dad has that way about him.

I wish Bill the best on this final lap in his journey. If he is up to listening, please read him this story. And I send my love to Betty, Mark, Ruth, Beth, Becca, spouces, and offspring. What a fantastic man your husband/dad/grampa is!

Chuck Gandy
Great Meadows NJ
with happy memories from Camp Clark, WV.