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Winter 2006-07 On Gene Fischer, Vital Ager For the last few years I have been the Treasurer for the Vital Aging Network – a non-profit that promotes self-sufficiency, community involvement, and a high quality of life for older adults. Until he died last December at age 90, my father Gene Fischer was a great example of a “vital ager.” Here are some stories about him. My flamboyant father, Gene, was a short man of high energy – always in a hurry – who took little projects and made them big. Tomatoes and Potato Pancakes. Gene grew up in a section of New York City that is now called Queens. He wanted a quieter place to live where he could have his own garden. He married and moved to “upstate New York” –Elmira (a city of 50,000) – in the early 1940’s and moved to a home on a hill after his apartment had been flooded. As a city-boy Gene loved to plant his large vegetable garden each spring behind the garage and watch the plants grow. Next to the garden the forsythia would bloom in the spring, apples would appear on the adjoining tree, and at the very back of their yard on First Street there were a few fruit trees and some grape vines. Gene and my mother, Marian, retired to Sarasota, Florida, in 1979. In Sarasota they lived in their own home until it was too much for them to manage. In 1997 they moved into senior housing. Gene continued his interest in gardening. He found a small patch outdoors and got permission from the senior facility to have a small garden there. He planted tomato seeds indoors to get a head start on the growing season. That summer he grew 26 tomato plants that produced 535 tomatoes. He kept some for himself, but the rest he distributed to other residents. In fact, he kept a list. Each and every resident received at least two tomatoes, except for one guy he did not like. Gene was very involved in his senior facility. While in his late 80’s he decided to make potato pancakes for all of the residents. He worked with a chef there. They used 40 pounds of potatoes, eggs and chopped onions, and fried them all. Personal and Family Challenges. Gene had his own medical challenges when he was 75 – both heart problems and cancer. They slowed him down for a year or two. But modern medical techniques added another 15 good years to his life. Twice in his life Gene’s major project was caring for Marian. The first time Gene provided care was in 1984. Marian and Gene were in an automobile accident on tour in Israel. Marian’s back was broken, and Gene got medical help for her. Only after she was receiving attention did he notice that his own back was also broken. Gene cared for Marian as she recovered from the pain over the next several years. Marian lost two inches of her 4’10” height. The second time was in Marian’s last years. Marian became frail (physically) and also developed dementia, probably from several mini-strokes. Gene was her sole care-provider until near the very end when he brought in a home-health care provider for 7 hours a day. This was a very difficult experience, although he never complained. Gene said that he and Marian had 65 good years together, until her death in March 2006. At age 90, after Marian’s death, Gene expected to travel again and expand his active involvement in his community. His legendary energy was fading, but it was still as great as most people half his age. However, he had liver cancer. He died peacefully, with no regrets, surrounded by family in December 2006. In Memory of Eugene Fischer, Vital Ager, 1916 - 2006 Thank you for your generosity. This year was our eighth Fischer on Finance Charitable Match. Personal thanks to everyone who is helping to make the world a better place. Here is a list of our clients’ favorite charities in 2006:
Each of you was able to leverage your own contribution through our match. The total, including our match, was $2,886 this year. Thank you again. |
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Financial Planning and Advisory Services provided through Fischer On Finance, a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Multi-financial Securities Corporation (MFSC) |
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