With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Gary Pace Fisher on June 27, 2025, in Chandler, Arizona. Gary was born in Baltimore, Maryland on July 4, 1931.
Gary was raised in Sparrows Point, Maryland. Sparrows Point was a steel town built by Bethlehem Steel Company. While attending Sparrows Point High School, Gary joined an amateur boxing club. During his high school years, Gary won the Maryland State Bantamweight Championship and was voted the most outstanding boxer at the tournament. In his senior year of high school, Gary won the South Atlantic Featherweight Championship. His boxing experience led to receiving a boxing scholarship from the University of Maryland. During college, he won the Eastern Collegiate Silver Medal Junior Welterweight, Eastern Collegiate Welterweight Championship, and the Sugar Bowl Junior Middleweight Championship. Later in life, Gary was a boxing referee at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Gary’s boxing record led to him being inducted into the Dundalk Maryland Sports Hall of Fame, and the Maryland State Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987.
Gary worked in Corporate Safety and Health throughout his career and earned a Master of Science from Central Missouri State University. Gary received many honors and special recognition for his achievements throughout his career, both nationally and internationally. Gary was a member of the Masonic Lodge of the state of Maryland for sixty-eight years. Throughout his life, Gary enjoyed boxing, tennis, racquetball, golf, skiing and fishing. Family was important to Gary, and he took every opportunity to be with his family. Gary coached for his kids’ sport teams, served as chaperon for his daughter’s traveling soccer team and school activities, and always provided love and support for his family.
Gary is survived by his wife, Kolleen, and daughters, Karen, Jessica, and Cheri. Gary was preceded in death by his sons, Dr. Robert G. Fisher and Aaron W. Belander.
A memorial service was held at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona and a celebration of life was held in Chandler, Arizona on July 4, 2025, on what would have been Gary’s 94th birthday.