Dotsy Fisher, devoted wife and mother dies at 84

DOROTHY “DOTSY” (née SAMUELSON) FISHER, widowed last June year by her husband of 63 years, Jack Fisher, died at home early on May 9. She was 84. Fisher was a housewife and community volunteer for much of her life, but did work with her husband assisting him at Lane’s Shoe Store and later, after the store was closed, when he became a successful commercial real estate agent.

Fisher was a native New Orleanian and was a graduate of Sophie Newcomb College, majoring in Fine Arts. She met her husband, while still a teenager and was married shortly after her graduation. Aside from her work with her husband’s business, she was noted for a wonderfully pleasant disposition and a pronounced sense of humor. Always preferring to live outside of the spotlight, she lived a fairly simple existence, living in only three different domiciles for her entire lifetime spent in New Orleans.

The Fishers were longtime members of Chevra Thillim and became affiliated with Shir Chadash Conservative Synagogue at the time of the merger with Tikvat Shalom. A member of the sisterhood at Chevra Thillim and, later, at Shir Chadash, Fisher was also a lifetime member of the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah.

Fisher is survived by daughters Briann (Melvin) Shear and Jodi (Scott) Levitan of Baltimore, MD and sons Dr. Marc (Jimmie Kay) Fisher of Meridian, MS and Ricki Fisher of Austin, TX; nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

Graveside services were held on Sunday, May 12, at 11 a.m. at Chevra Thilim Memorial Park, 5000 Iberville Street (at Helena Street), New Orleans. Rabbi Ethan Linden officiated.

The final Shiva Minyan will be held at 805 Ridgelake Dr., Metairie, on  Monday, May 13th at 7:15 pm.

Memorial donations are suggested to Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation or Jewish Children’s Regional Service.