John James Fisher

James Fisher, originally of Rochester, whose last residence was 749 Curran Road, Shortsville, NY, has died at 95 years of age at the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, Canandaigua, NY, following a long illness.

John was born and raised at 85 Dickinson Street, Rochester, to parents John Joseph Vasseur (Fisher) and M. Louise Wauters, with his four siblings. Having excelled in football and baseball in high school, John served as an Athletic Director in the U.S. Army during World War II while attached to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was also part of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and received Honorable Discharges from the Army in 1949 and the Air Force in 1953.

John met his future wife, Marie Olive Catherine Watts of Uniondale, Long Island, New York at a USO function while in the Army. They married on May 25, 1947, on Long Island, where they raised their four children. At the time of his death, John and Marie would have been married 74 years, but for Marie’s passing many years prior. John worked for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY from 1941-1945 before becoming a cabinetmaking apprentice for Albert Wood & Five Sons on Long Island. He then started Fisher Woodcraft in Elmont, Long Island, specializing in the crafting of original custom-made wall units and furniture.

The family moved to Massachusetts for many years. After his retirement from woodworking, John worked as a real estate broker, first in Massachusetts and then in New York, where he moved after Marie’s death. He received numerous awards for his real estate achievements.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marie, John is survived by four children. Maureen Fisher-Rough, formerly of Virginia Beach, Virginia, most recently of Chandler, Arizona, attended Ohio State University and was a former restaurant manager. John (Jack) Fisher (Kathie) of Newark, NY dedicated 30 years in the Newark school system as a varsity wrestling coach, 24 years as a football coach, 35 years as a physical education teacher and six years as an athletic director, bringing winning seasons to the athletes. He was inducted into the Section 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame. Jack and Kathie are retired and live in York, Pennsylvania near their grandchildren. Patricia (Trish) Vasseur graduated from Cornell University and had a successful legal career, followed by many years as a real estate broker. She also played competitive volleyball in the U.S. National tournaments, traveling the country. Trish currently resides in Bristol, Rhode Island. Gary Fisher (Michelle), after graduate school, had a successful corporate marketing career in consumer products/services. He currently invests in and sells real estate in Virginia where he lives with his family.

John has numerous grandchildren and great-children as well.

John was a parishioner at St. Dominic’s Church in Manchester, NY; however, services will be private. Donations can be made in his memory to St. Dominic’s Parish, 12 Hibbard Ave., Clifton Springs, NY 14432.

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