Thomas Mack Fisher, 78, was promoted to the Church Triumphant on Nov. 1 at his home in Rabun Gap. He had fought a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer for over a year and a half, without complaint.
He is survived by his wife, Susan, his sons, Drew (Linda) Fisher, and Brad Fisher, and daughter, Meredith (Nick) Menudier. His grandchildren are Tommy Fisher, Dillon Fisher, Laura Fisher, Karis Menudier and Ben Fisher. He is also survived by a sister, Janice Brady.
Tom was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He lived in Bloomington, Indiana, before moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, at age 11. He graduated from Ft. Lauderdale High School and attended Florida State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Engineering Science. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Although he held many positions in his career, they were all in the telecommunications field. From chief engineer in California to director of a test lab in Texas, as well as directing manager of a test systems division of Reliance ComTec, to directing a sales team credited with implementing the use of fiber optics to the home with BellSouth in Atlanta and other areas of the South, Tom was known as innovative and resourceful.
Even after retirement in 2000, he continued to be active in business. He and his wife created two real estate developments, Westwind Farms in Rabun Gap and Bartram Ridge in Clayton. Tom continued his real estate ventures as managing partner of Claybourne Property Associates.
With a passion for speed, Tom enjoyed racing his dirt bikes in enduro races in the Florida swamps and later, the high desert of Southern California. He also owned an open wheel Lotus and drove it in HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing) events from Road Atlanta to Virginia Motor Speedway to Watkins Glen, New York. He took to the air in Texas, where he flew his ultralight over the prairie skies.
An ardent hobbyist, Tom loved the challenge of restoring vintage cars, Edison photographs, classic Wurlitzer jukeboxes as well as motorcycles. His collection was well known and recently sold at a Golden Memories Auction, which he attended.
Travel with his wife held a special interest also. They were fortunate enough to be able to explore the world with special trips to Antarctica, Kenya and Tanzania, World War II Pacific Islands, and the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, to name a few.
Tom loved his years in Rabun County in his Rabun Gap home with a panoramic view of the Georgia and North Carolina mountains. Special events for him were cooking a whole pig for family and friends on the Fourth of July, rainy evening parties on the back porch after a Music Festival concert, family visits and holidays spent together, riding the property on his four-wheeler and feeding his wild turkeys. He was a member of Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church and looked forward to attending services there.
Golfing at Kingwood Country Club was a major pleasure. He was president of the Kingwood golf association for many years and took great pleasure in devising challenging games for both the club and social play.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 485, Rabun Gap, Georgia 30568.
A memorial service in celebration of Tom’s life and in witness to the resurrection will be held at Rabun Gap Presbyterian on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m.
The Clayton Tribune, Nov. 10, 2016