Harry Thomas Fisher, Jr., better known as “Tom”, passed away suddenly at the age of 90 at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, on Tuesday June 29, 2021. Born in Braintree on October 4, 1930, he was the son of Harry Thomas Fisher, Sr. and Elsie (Pray) Fisher. Tom lived in Braintree with his parents and sister until 1954 when he relocated his young family to Middleboro, MA, where they made their home for more than six decades.
Tom was a United States Marine during the Korean War and served on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier, number forty-two. Following his military service, he worked bottling milk for MacIntire’s Dairy then later as a commercial sword-fisherman on the Captain Bill out of Falmouth MA. After several years of fishing, he worked out of his home as an Agway representative who supplied farm equipment to local farmers and distributed chemicals on-site to various southeastern Massachusetts cranberry bogs; eventually becoming the sole owner-operator of a dairy farm and cranberry bog.
Following his endeavors, Tom went back to Marine life. This time he worked as Captain on the Gemma research vessel for the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole. He very much enjoyed taking scientists and students on daily excursions to explore fundamentals biology, biodiversity and the ecological environment for research.
He was a member of the Middleboro Ski Club. He enjoyed down-hill skiing while entertaining family and friends in the “Home Among the Hills” vacation chalet he built in Poultney, Vermont. He was also an instrument rated pilot and found time to take his personal plane south for vacations with family and friends. In his later years Tom reveled in watching sports, recounting stories, and simply calling on friends old and new.
Tom was most recognized as a proud father; he was an amazing “Do-It-All” Dad. He took an interest to oversee details of Gid’s cranberry bogs and he was an irreplaceable right arm for David in all his restaurant activities. He was truly revered by the many restaurant employees, fishermen from the New Bedford docks and old-timers from the cranberry industry. Young and old counted on him for different reasons but especially his vast knowledge and experiences. His passing will leave a void in so many lives.
Tom is survived by his wife Joan of 70 years, his sons and their wives Gid and MaryAnne, David and Dina all of Middleboro, and his late son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Cheryl of Palm Beach Gardens Florida. He also leaves behind five grandchildren: Joshua and fiancé Heather of Florida, Michael and his wife Kristen from Chicago, Kate and her fiancé Mark of Middleboro, Colby and her fiancé Russ from Pembroke, Kendall of Middleboro, and a great-granddaughter Addison from Chicago. He was predeceased by his sister, Olive Fisher formerly of Sun City Florida. Memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday July 20, 2021 from 12:30 – 3:00PM at the Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home 280 Bedford Street Lakeville, MA 02347.
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