John Fischer, 46, FDNY, promoted posthumously 'He thought the world of his wife and kids'; his days off were arranged around his children's schedules Date of Death 9/11/2001 By Kathryn Carse Advance staff writer Sunday, 11/04/2001 A lifelong resident of West Brighton, John R. Fischer knew a lot of people -- some would say he knew everyone. He helped people with practical problems like plumbing or less tangible ones, when listening and advice were needed. The dedicated family man and good friend had a generous and unassuming manner that made whoever he was with feel his time was for them. Michael Toal, a fellow firefighter and West Brighton native, worked with Mr. Fischer at Ladder Co. 20 in Manhattan. "He thought the world of his wife and his kids. His days off were arranged around his kids' schedules. He was always coaching," said the longtime friend. The interests of Mr. Fischer's three children dictated his coaching choices. He coached his boys, Timothy, 14 and John, 9 in basketball and soccer, and he coached his daughter, Laura, 12, in soccer. When he wasn't coaching he was attending games and swim meets. On Mr. Fischer's teams, everyone got to play. "He never cared if the kids won the game," his wife, the former Jean Corley, said. "He was more interested in how they grew up, knowing right from wrong, being able to make decisions." He coached in the Sacred Heart Spartan League and for the school's Catholic Youth Organization basketball and soccer teams. He was also a dedicated umpire at Snug Harbor Little League. Mr. Fischer began his career in 1979 as a special education teacher at Markham Intermediate School 51, Graniteville. He left teaching in 1982 to spend a brief time in the business world at Solomon Brothers, Manhattan until being appointed to the Fire Department in 1983, a job that allowed him to have time again to work with children. He served at Ladder Co. 13 on the Upper East Side until 1994, when he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the 23rd Battalion, Staten Island. After six months he transferred to Ladder Co. 20 on Lafayette Street in SoHo. Located less than a half-mile from the World Trade Center, the company was one of the first to respond after a jetliner crashed into Tower 1 on Sept. 11. His company was last seen on the 35th floor, and he is one of seven men who did not return. "Everyone liked working with John," said Mr. Toal. "He knew what he was doing. He took care of the guys." The 46-year-old lieutenant was promoted to captain on Sept. 17. His years in West Brighton were interrupted only by a year in Willowbrook and a year in Brooklyn, when he was married. The couple moved back to West Brighton in 1987. They lived on Oakland Avenue for 11 years before moving to a larger house in the same community. For the family man, it was the size of the house and the kitchen that won him over immediately. Now he could have the Thanksgiving feast -- for as many as 60 family members -- at his house. It was not only being able to fit everyone in that gave him pleasure, but to be able to cook for them as well. As a high school student Mr. Fischer acquired the knack for making the best sandwiches when he worked in Dick's Deli, a neighborhood institution. He later developed outstanding firehouse culinary skills, partly in response to the pressure to cook well when so many people were going to appreciate it -- or complain, and his Buffalo wings were a specialty. Holiday gatherings were supplemented with vacations taken with family and friends. His wife's extended family met every year at the Jersey shore, and the Fischers had a particularly beautiful and relaxing time this summer. In almost every picture of Mr. Fischer he is holding a baby. With three children of his own, 16 nieces and nephews and many friends it wasn't hard to find one, but he was always drawn to them. Running had become a fitness activity over the last five years. "Running buddy," Patrick Clifford said, "It started out for physical health but it became more of a mental health exercise, as we talked about life, kids, sports, what we were doing. I looked forward to the time, and I think he did too." Although Mr. Clifford, a battalion chief with Division 1, Manhattan, was also a firefighter, the two met at the Youth Activity Council of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, where Mr. Fischer was a parishioner. When the two felt too old for the regular Friday night basketball game they gravitated toward running. "It was one of the best things I was doing, now it's one of the saddest things," said Mr. Clifford, of their regular runs through the parks. The two also entered local races. When the two friends ran, people would wave or blow their horn. "Sometimes he would give the litany of the connections," said Mr. Clifford of the knowledge the longtime community resident had. "Sometimes he would just say, 'You wouldn't know them.' " Mr. Fischer's middle name was Rudy, a nickname used by some of his old friends. For Mr. Clifford, a "new friend," it was ironic that his friend shared a name with the popular resident of City Hall. "Whether you knew him for years or just met him, he had a way of making everyone feel comfortable around him," said Mr. Clifford. A 1973 graduate of St. Peter's Boys High School, Mr. Fischer earned his associate's degree from the former Staten Island Community College, and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the College of Staten Island at its former St. George campus. In honor of his dual heritage, he was a member of the Emerald (Irish) and Steuben (German) societies in the Fire Department. In addition to his wife, Jean, his sons, Timothy and John, and his daughter, Laura, surviving are his three brothers, George, William, and Robert, and his sister Maureen Sanborn. Mr. Fischer was preceded in death by his father, George, who died in 1984 and his mother, the former Maureen Quinn, who died in 1998. A memorial mass is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church.

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