Remembered by the Armed Forces as one of this nation's most dedicated patriots, Zachary Fisher considered himself to be the luckiest man alive. He had two rewarding careers, one in the investment building sector of New York's real estate industry, the other as a private citizen serving his beloved country.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, young Zachary left high school at the age of 16, without finishing, to help in the family construction business. He worked as a bricklayer until a serious building accident nearly cost him his left leg. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he was rejected by the military due to his injury, dashing forever his hopes of serving his country in the war. But Zachary persevered and the family business, as well as his devotion to serving his country, skyrocketed. The construction business he helped build is one of the industry's leaders, contributing some of the most prestigious international corporate office buildings to the New York skyline.
Just when many of his contemporaries were retiring to life of leisure, Mr. Fisher embarked on another career, one which would become all consuming. It would decide his destiny, redirect his life, and as the need for his total involvement became more apparent, it would touch the lives of millions of Americans as well.
Along with his wife, Elizabeth, Mr. Fisher established the "
Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Armed Services Foundation," to provide financial assistance to members of the Armed Forces and their dependents.
Never was the need more apparent than after the 1989 turret explosion aboard the USS Iowa in which 47 crewmen were killed. The Fishers received the tragic news as a very personal loss and gave each of the 47 families $25,000 along with a letter explaining that while nothing would compensate for the loss of their loved ones, it was hoped that they could take some comfort in knowing that two total strangers cared enough about the family's grief to send a token of their remorse.
In addition to college scholarships and building New York's
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, which preserves and houses a fleet of retired peace keeping ships and aircraft, the Fisher's philanthropic contribution to our Armed Forces is extraordinary. In 1990, the Fishers devoted their Foundation's resources to the construction and donation of "homes of comfort" for military families in need. The Zachary and Elizabeth
Fisher Houses are located on the grounds of various military and veteran hospitals around the country.
The Fisher Houses at Travis AFB are the second and fifth California-based house in a series of 65 houses built or under construction around the country today. With base closures throughout California and across the nation,
Travis AFB,
David Grant USAF Medical Center, and its
Travis Fisher House I & II have become essential to the health and well being of military families. It is the Fisher Foundation's intention to be able to keep service families together during periods of medical emergencies or crisis, when they need the support and comfort of their family the most.
"People aren't remembered for what they had," said Mr. Fisher. "They're remembered for what they gave." The men and women of America's armed forces will always remember Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher because they gave so much to so many. Mr. Fisher passed away in 1998, with his wife Elizabeth following in 2004. Today, their surviving family members, along with the Fisher Foundation, continues a multitude of generous philanthropic endeavors "
dedicated to our greatest national treasure, our military service men and women and their loved ones."