Dr. Sam Fisher, 91 of Odessa passed away on October 20, 2006 at Medical Center Hospital. He was born on August 21, 1915 in Akron, Ohio to Dora and Benjamin Rosenthal. His father died in an accident when he was 2 years old and he and his siblings spent several years in the Jewish Home for Orphans, as his mother was unable to support them. Sam spent his early years in Cleveland, Ohio, where his mother and stepfather, Morris Fisher had a catering business. After his bar mitzvah at 13, his family moved to Chicago, where his parents owned a kosher restaurant at the Jewish People's Institute, and later a Hungarian restaurant. He became an excellent waiter and short order cook. Sam played the bass fiddle, trombone, and trumpet in a jazz orchestra while in high school and college. He did not think he was very good, but was happy that he was being paid.
Sam attended junior college at the Jewish People's Institute in Chicago, where he excelled at swimming and worked as a life guard. It was at the Jewish People's Institute that Sam met Esther Rosenberg, the beautiful woman who was later to become his wife. Sam attended optometry school, and graduated magna cum laude. And after a two year courtship, Sam and Esther married on September 11, l938. In 1939, Sam accepted a job as an optometrist in Tyler, Texas, working 6 days a week for what he called "the princely sum of $30 per week." Their two children, Burt and Carolyn, were born in Tyler.
In 1946, Sam and his family moved to Odessa, then a city of 29,000 people. Sam opened Fisher Optical Company at 411 North Grant, which he owned and operated for over 50 years. Sam was an avid tennis player and golfer well into his 80's. During his lifetime, he made not one, not two, but three holes in one.
He was the last surviving founding member of Temple Beth El, and helped to build the current temple, where Sam and Esther dedicated a classroom to their parents, and later his son Burt dedicated the Fisher Family Social Hall to Sam and Esther. For 60 years, Sam served the Permian Basin Jewish community in different leadership roles. He was an organizer and president of Permian Basin B'nai Brith, a founder of Permian Basin B'nai Brith Youth Organization, president of Temple Beth El, and a director of the Jewish Children's Regional Service. Sam generously gave of his time to the Odessa community. He was an organizer and president of the Permian Basin Optometric Society, a member of the Board of Directors of the Y.M.C.A., an advisor to the Girls Club, director of the Odessa Housing Authority, and a life member of the American Optometric Society. He was a member of Odessa Country Club for 50 years and a member of the Masonic Lodge.
Sam was very kind and generous, and never turned down a request to support a worthy cause. He was well-respected and loved by everyone in the community, and a true philanthropist.
He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Fisher Kwiatek of Mountain View, California; son, Dr. Burt Fisher of Kent, Washington; granddaughter Melody Nolan of Sacramento, California, sister Marge Collins of Arleta, California, nieces Diane Avalos of Arleta, and Marcia Goodman of California, nephews Dr. David Rosenberg and wife Linda, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Barry Fisher of Santa Monica, California, and great nephew David Blatner and his wife Debbie of Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Fisher was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years, Esther, his granddaughter, Dawn Michele Fisher, his brother Harry Fisher, and his sister Gertrude Shaw.
Services will take place at 2 pm on Monday at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rabbi Sidney Zimelman officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at home on Monday from 7-9 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Temple Beth El or to Permian Basin Chapter of Hadassah to benefit Hadassah Hospital in Israel, and mailed to 1501 N. Grandview Ave., Odessa, TX 79761.