Donald Fisher

It is with great sadness that our family announces that Donald (“Don”) Fisher, of Bainbridge Island, passed away on June 21, 2022, at the age of 90. After falling and breaking his hip, he did not recover from his surgery. His battle in the weeks following his surgery only highlighted his kindness, thoughtfulness, and sincere love for his family and those around him. Not only did every nurse, doctor, and caregiver remark on how kind he was, but every visitor recounted how he asked about them and their family and the events in their lives. In pain, from his hospital bed, he took a sincere interest in the details of his oldest daughter, Sarah’s retirement party, taking a keen interest in how we would manage to park everyone–ever the party planner and man of practical details!

Don was born in Tacoma on June 14, 1932, to Martha (Mowers) and Donald Fisher. He grew up in Tacoma and Aberdeen, winning sailing trophies on American Lake and following his father through trails on their property to throw tomatoes at FDR’s train as he traveled to Seattle (yes Don did have a change in political views after meeting Ellen!). He graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree where he was a proud DKE, and would still encourage his two cheerleader granddaughters with a DKE chant years later.  Don was drafted and acted as a personnel man in the Navy during the Korean War, stationed in Kodiak and San Diego. After working at Shorelines Savings bank, and owning several businesses, he opened his own appraisal business in Kitsap County, Landmark Appraisals.

Don met Ellen when he asked the headmistress at Annie Wright Seminary in Tacoma if there were any teachers to whom she might introduce him (and this is how it worked in the days before Tinder!).  He recalls seeing Ellen at the top of the stairs for the first time and thinking to himself “my God, is that the one for me!?” They married in 1958, at Plymouth Congregational Church, moved to Seattle and then to Mercer Island, and then permanently to Bainbridge Island in 1974 where they bought and remodeled a house on Fletcher Bay. Ellen’s family had had a summer house on Pleasant Beach, next to dear cousins for decades. Don and Ellen’s family, along with Ellen’s sister Sarah and her husband Russ, and family Kenneth and Ellen, spent many, many happy summers on Pleasant Beach. When Ellen and Don decided that Mercer Island had become too hectic and upscale, Bainbridge seemed the perfect place.  Don was an active community member throughout his many years on the Island, helping to preserve many beach access points across the Island through his work on the Road Ends Committee and as President of the Bainbridge Island Senior Center. He served as president for two years at the Eagle Harbor Congregational Church and was a regular at the men’s breakfast club. He worked for years with Kitsap County’s Board of Equalization where he enjoyed his work there, as much as the chance to get coffee at the local airport or Bowling Alley. Most recently, they moved (along with Don’s beloved cat Duke) to Liberty Shores Retirement home in Poulsbo where Don continued to be greatly regarded by the staff for his kindness and to make many excuses for trips to McDonald’s for coffee. 

Don and Ellen raised three children: Sarah, Cam, and Carrie, and have twelve grandchildren.  Sarah and her husband Matt Wilson live in Hansville.  Cam and his wife Suzanne live on Bainbridge Island, as does Carrie, and her husband Michael Holloway.  All three of his children remember him as being a proud, loving, supportive father. He always took an interest in us, and in our families, and in that he set a great example. His grandchildren all have such fond memories of family gatherings–from Easter egg hunts to Thanksgiving dinners, to the toy farm set in the cupboard, to pickleball, to family weekends at the White House at Fort Worden, to Fourth of July celebrations, to dinners at Docs. Don was always front and center in instigating a family gathering and then presiding over it with kindness and interest in all who gathered. 

Don will be so fondly remembered as a warm and kind person by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held on September 11th at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church at 2pm.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.