Lawrence Andrew Fisher's Obituary
Lawrence A. Fisher, 92, of Largo, Florida passed away peacefully on November 18, 2023. Born September 3, 1931 in Detroit to Coyle and Helen Fisher, Larry graduated from De La Salle Collegiate High School in 1949. During his high school years, he met the love of his life, JoAnn (Dillon). A Korean War veteran, Larry served in the US Navy from 1952 to 1956, returning to Michigan to marry JoAnn in 1956. While employed at R. P. Scherer as a chemist, he earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Detroit. Larry and JoAnn’s family grew over the years with the births of six sons and daughters. In 1981, the couple moved to St. Petersburg with their three daughters when Larry’s employer relocated to Clearwater. Larry retired in 1995. He and JoAnn moved to Largo in 2022.
The constant in Larry’s life was dedication to his family. He was a loving husband to JoAnn and a caring father to Michael (Kim Allen) Fisher, Patrick (Kathy) Fisher, Daniel Fisher, Julia (Randy) Toomajanian, Suzanne Fisher, and Linda Fisher. He had a knack for finding one-on-one time with each of his children as they were growing up. He also led family camping trips with the skill of a Boy Scout leader, which he was to his eldest sons. He taught his children by example the importance of kindness, patience, and care for others. His years of involvement in Meals on Wheels and the Christmas Toy Shop Project (where rehabilitating dollhouses was his specialty) are testament to his values, as is the support he gave to his church throughout his life as both a volunteer and choir member. He enjoyed fixing and adapting anything that would fill a need or a problem, but he wasn’t always in his well-organized workshop. He spent happy hours gardening and landscaping his home, and his love of photography was a lifelong hobby that he indulged in no matter where he traveled. Larry was also a big band enthusiast: if there was no jazz orchestra music playing, he likely wasn’t at home.
In addition to his wife JoAnn and the couple’s children, Larry is survived by grandchildren Christopher (Leah) Toomajanian, Andrew (Laura) Fisher, Genevieve (Ry) Colman, Torrey Toomajanian, Timothy Conti, Emily Toomajanian, and Brian Fisher, and great-grandchildren Elliott Toomjanian and Hazel Colman.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Meals on Wheels St. Petersburg - a favorite charity of Lawrence and JoAnn. https://networktoendhunger.org/mowsp/
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