Leonard Everett Fisher died this weekend. The noted artist/illustrator, longtime civic volunteer, and one of our last remaining World War II veterans was 4 months shy of his 100th birthday.
He was a Westport icon.
A supremely talentedartist/illustrator, he designed 10 US postage stamps. He illustrated 250 books for young readers, and his works hang in the collections of the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, New York Public Library, Yale Art Gallery and New Britain Museum of Art.
Fisher created over 700 paintings and 6,000 scratch boards. He’s listed as one of the 2000 Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century.
At the 2022 Memorial Day parade, Leonard Everett Fisher was a month shy of his 98th birthday. His uniform still fit. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Decades earlier, between 1942 and ’46, he was a topographical mapmaker. He planned, edited and produced maps for campaigns in Italy, France, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the aborted invasion and occupation of Japan.
In 2013 Fisher served as grand marshal of Westport’s Memorial Day parade. He was a proud participant too in Bedford Middle School’s Memorial Day assemblies.
Leonard Everett Fisher at Westport’s 2017 Memorial Day celebration.
More than 70 years after the war, his contributions finally drew national attention.
In 2018 PBS aired “GI Jews: Jewish Americans in World War II.” Fisher was one of the interviews.
He was in good company. Henry Kissinger, Mel Brooks and other Jewish Americans — some famous, others unknown — shared their experience as part of the 550,000 men and women who fought for their nation, struggled with antisemitism in their ranks, and emerged transformed, to fight for equality and justice at home.
In June of 2019, when Fisher turned 95, the Westport Arts Center invited his friends, fans and family members to celebrate.
It was a fitting tribute. Fisher was a founding member, past president, and current WAC board member.
Leonard Everett Fisher at the Westport Arts Center, for his 95th birthday.
Fisher saw the WAC through many incarnations, from an itinerant organization to its home at the then-closed Greens Farms Elementary School, to its later spot on Riverside Avenue.
Fisher was also a moving force at the Westport Library. He served 3 terms as president, and helped plan the building, on landfill near the Levitt Pavilion.
When he was 93 years young, he turned his attention to a new project: a Westport Artists Museum at Golden Shadows, Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff’s former home at Baron’s South.
For a variety of political reasons, the museum was not built. But, Fisher said at the time, “So long as I put one foot in front of the other, this gives me energy and excitement,” he says.
Today, Westport mourns the passing of Leonard Everett Fisher — war hero, honored artist, neighbor and friend.
For an inspiring 30-minute video interview with Fisher, click here.
Thanks for posting this, Dan. Leonard was not only an amazing talent, and a very smart guy — he was a mensch, always a kind and generous presence. His family’s contribution to the American military was remarkable – and then to go on and delight children (and inspire many young artists and writers) — it’s quite a legacy. He will be missed.
My husband Marvin and I are saddened to hear of the death of Leonard Everett Fisher. We were honored to have known him and to spend time with him over the years that I worked at Westport library. He invited us to one of his art openings at NYU one year and we were so pleased to be invited and able to attend. And when Marvin and I got married, he gave us one of his scratchboards as a wedding gift that we treasure. Len Fisher was one of the good guys. Joan Hume-Cohen
What a great, kind, gentleman. You will truly be missed. Deepest condolences to the family.
He was my hero. My heart is broken. Dearest Margee, … reach out if you want anything, anything at all.
He was a lovely man, and also very encouraging to me as a fellow artist! I will miss him, but am grateful to have memories that I’ll keep forever!!
I adored Leonard Fisher. I got to know him when he became the President of the Library Board of Trustees, where I worked for 25 years. Not only a great artist and author, but he told the most fascinating war stories. Leonard, Howard Munce and Neil Hardy were responsible for arranging art exhibits on the kiosks – now there was a threesome! What an honor it was to work with him!
Leonard Fisher was an inspiration to us all who were honored to be in his company. His zest for living and learning is how I will fondly remember him. The Westport Historical Society thrived because people like him made history come alive. His experiences as a Veteran, his artwork and humanitarian service will forever be remembered.
May his long life be a blessing to us all.
My cousin Martin Wunsch was a great friend of Leonard Fisher.
They were two Jews out of Brooklyn and both served in WW2
and had gone to the same high school. Nine years ago I was in Westport and visited Leonard . We shared some good stories
about my cousin and Brooklyn childhoods. I came from there too.
A David Wunsch Staples 1956
I first met Len when I was appointed a trustee of the Westport Library in 1986. We stayed friends after both of us had left the Board. Our friendship was rekindled several years ago when I was invited to join a weekly men’s lunch discussion group. Topics ranged from local to international affairs to hearing aids (most of us had them). And if we lacked a topic, Len was ever ready. His “war” stories were always interesting and every time he told one, there was something new that he added. I will truly miss him.
This is such a hard moment and news to accept. Leonard is/was among the the most genuine, generous, intellectually engaged, interesting, and creative people I have known. His life and career, to me, was inspired by his love of family and art then extended to his origins in New York City, many decades in Westport, his role in WWII and as veteran to America, and as a student to Yale, then to his faith. I adored Leonard’s spirit and energy and more. I will miss him, WestPAC will miss him, WAAC will miss him, the town will miss him. I send the deepest of condolences to Marge and their children and grandchildren whose hearts must all be aching and empty right now.
I’m so sad to hear of his passing as he was such a Westport icon. Decades ago he came as a guest of honor to my little daughter’s birthday party, told a story and each kid,as their party favor, received one of his books which he then autographed. So special and I feel lucky to have known him.
During all of my 29 years at Max’s Art Supplies, I enjoyed when Leonard came in. We would talk often and he would ask me how my kids were doing and how I was doing as a Boy Scout Leader. I can still hear his voice and see his smile. I’ve missed him since Max’s closed in 2014. RIP Leonard
When I moved to Westport, when I was 9 years old, I lived across the street from Marge and Leonard Fisher. They were such wonderful neighbors! As the years went by, and I would run into them throughout town, they always remembered me and my family. Mr. Fisher was one of those people you thought would be around forever. My sincerest condolences go out to the entire Fisher family.
So sad to hear of the passing of a Westport legend. Memory of him will live on. Condolences to Marge and his beloved family.
He was a wonderful man He spoke to Y’s women about map making. He was a gem and will be greatly missed
Leonard Fisher was a remarkable person.Having first met him when I served on the Library Board,I encountered him many times over the years.He was always energetic,insightful and honest. He had an incredible sense of humor and could have been a professional story teller! Above all else, he was a consummate artist, whose works had real aesthetic power. His studio was a wondrous place, filled with examples of his rare gift. He was a unique presence in Westport who will be truly missed.My condolences to Marge and the family.
Len was a stalwart of the Y’s Men – he designed the logo that we still use. And until recently, he participated in the Bedford Middle School Veteran’s Day activities, regaling the kids with his stories of adventures in World War II.
I’ll miss seeing him and Marge at Coffee An’. My sincere condolences to Marge.
My wife, Linda, and I occasionally bumped into the Fishers dining with our friends, Irma and Joe Schacter, at the SRC’s Boathouse Restaurant. All were in their nineties. All were incredibly chatty and welcoming to our hello’s and how are you’s!
From the “GI Jews” video it is not too hard to imagine what Everett and Joe were like when they were young and serving our country in WW II. They were truly “The Greatest Generation”.
Len Fisher was one of my favorite Westporters. I was always fascinated by his stories about his adventurous life – especially this one: On May 6 1937, he an a cousin were playing baseball at Sea Gate beach on the western tip of Brooklyn. Suddenly the huge zeppelin Hindenburg appeared over them, cruising slowly toward a delayed landing at Lakehurst, New Jersey. It was flying so low that Len and his friends could see passengers waving to them through the cantilevered windows. They enthusiastically waved back, but their enthusiasm disappeared when they spotted the swastikas (50 feet in diameter) on the Hindenburg’s tail fins. They began throwing rocks at the ship – I imagine they might have had slingshots too.
That night Len and his cousin were having dinner with Len’s parents, listening to the news on the radio, when they heard the announcement that the Hindenburg had exploded and crashed while landing. Len and his cousin were frightened that they had caused the crash with their rock throwing, and expected that the FBI would come for them. So they secretly packed a suitcase and at midnight they were sneaking down stairs to run away. Len’s father was waiting at the bottom of the staircase, and asked, “Where do you think you’re going?” When they told him the whole story, he responded, “Don’t be so foolish and get back to bed.”
I can hear Leonard’s voice telling this story. Thanks for sharing this.
R.I.P , Leonard Everett Fisher .
Len Fisher will be missed by all who knew him. I count myself lucky to have worked at the Westport Library and looked forward to his visits and conversation. He was a Westport legend and an unforgettable man.
Barbara Rogan
What sad news. I have known Len since the 1980’s. We met at Silvermone Arts Center as Members and the former Westport Arts Center. Our military experiences and commercial art careers gave us much to share. Len’s books were wonderful and it was so nice to see Len and Marge at the MET Opera Quick Center performances. Our condolences to Marge.
Dave & Judy Pressler