William “Bill” Fisher

William (“Bill”) Michael Fisher was born on Christmas Day in 1956 to Victoria (Toski) and Harrison Fisher of Haydenville, MA. The youngest of four siblings, Bill grew up in Haydenville and Florence and attended Northampton Public Schools. Bill spent his formative years playing golf with his uncles, playing basketball and baseball with his friends, and spending lots of time with his large extended family.

Bill was a 1974 graduate of Northampton High school. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College and his Master’s degree from American International College. Bill’s career was centered on compassion and dedicated to helping others. He worked with kids as a caseworker and a counselor at the Department of Youth Services on Tinkham Road in Springfield, and at Westfield Detention Center, where he was a member of a group of beloved colleagues called the “Rangers." Later, he was a probation officer at Northampton District Court, where he worked until his retirement. Bill’s favorite job, however, came in retirement, as a representative for Titleist. He was a member at Greenfield Country Club, and a talented golfer. He loved to play, and played wherever he traveled. He loved to teach others to play golf even more.

He met Karen Sparko of Easthampton when she crashed a party he was attending. The two quickly fell in love and were married on June 15, 1980 surrounded by their loved ones. The couple moved to Easthampton where they raised their daughters, Laura and Mary, on Karen’s family’s farm on Lovefield Street.  Karen and Bill remained inseparable until his passing.

Bill was athletic, active, and engaged - he loved to golf, bike, ski, go for long walks with his wife, and metal detect in the fields of his daughter’s historic farm. Bill liked to treasure hunt at thrift shops and estate sales - celebrating unique finds along the way. He loved animals, and he loved learning about history - he was always working through a pile of nonfiction books. He was a man of great faith, and was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart Parish in Easthampton.

Bill was a kind, happy, charming, and magnetic man. Bill knew everyone - through work, golf, family, school, and his kids. Bill derived joy from being surrounded by people, and people loved him. He always had a story, a joke, or a quip that would reinforce his charismatic personality. He was so well known, and is so well loved.

What Bill loved most of all was his family. Bill leaves behind the love of his life, Karen (Sparko) Fisher of Easthampton MA, and their cat-- his buddy -- Stoney.  Bill’s greatest pride was in his daughters: Laura Fisher of Easthampton and Mary Fisher of Holyoke. Bill was so invested in his daughters’ lives that he treated their partners as his own sons: Mary’s husband Gary LaPlante Jr. and Laura’s partner Jeffrey Wilga Jr. were both held in high esteem in Bill’s heart.

Bill also leaves behind his three siblings, Marianne (Fisher) Green Donohue of Fort Myers FL, James Fisher and his wife Kathy of Montclair, VA, and Cindy (Fisher) Lukowski of Leeds, MA. He cared deeply for his many nieces and nephews: Amy Fisher of Alexandria, VA; Jennifer Wiesen of Hollywood, MD; Beth Hopper of Belmont, NC; Jonas Clark of Florida; Rochelle and Alexis Sparko of Durham, NC; Andrea Sparko of Woburn, MA; and Steven Sparko of Holyoke, MA. The entire family will feel the immense loss of their beloved brother, husband, father, and uncle.

Bill passed suddenly at home on February 25, 2024. Although his passing has created a tremendous loss for the Fisher family and in the Pioneer Valley community, we can all take solace in the fact that Bill is watching over us, cheering for us, and critiquing our golf swings from heaven. Calling hours will be held Sunday March 3rd at Mitchell Funeral home in Easthampton, MA from 3 - 5 p.m. If so inclined, visitors may bring a notecard with their favorite story about Bill.  A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 4th at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton, with a celebration of his life to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dakin Humane Society in Springfield or to the Massachusetts Chapter of First Tee (a youth development golf organization) in Bill’s memory.

Mitchell Funeral Home www.mitchellcofuneralhome.com

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