Obituary

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Oliver Robert Fisher — known fondly as Bob to some, and Ollie to others — on April 28, 2025. Born in Toronto on October 17, 1948, Oliver carried a lifelong love for the simple pleasures of his hometown, especially ferry rides to the Toronto Islands and cheering on his beloved Leafs, Argos, and Blue Jays. From an early age, Oliver learned the value of hard work at the family business, Valley Blades. After gaining experience elsewhere, he followed his entrepreneurial spirit to launch Gottics Industries, building something of his own with the same grit and determination that defined his life. The true love of his life was his wonderful wife, Marilyn, with whom he built a beautiful life and family. He was a proud and devoted father to Susan (and Mike), Allan, Bobby, and Amanda (and Adrian), and a cherished Grandpa (or “Grumpa”) to John, Meghan (and Alexis), Ada, and Finley. Oliver grew up surrounded by the strong bonds of his siblings — Phyllis (and the late Ted Lydan), Ken (and Lois), Tom (and Helen), and the twins Doug (and Judy), and Denise (and Tony) — and he carried that sense of family throughout his life. He had a passion for many hobbies that reflected his curious spirit and generous heart: an avid curler at the Galt Curling Club, playing casual (and very social) rounds of golf, woodworking projects, tending his garden, and even keeping bees. He was always ready with a homemade treat with his delicious baking, and collected “cans for cookies”, gathering items for the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank in exchange for a bag of homemade cookies. And of course, he was known for sporting his trusty Crocs — a small but fitting symbol of his practical, down-to-earth nature. Oliver’s sense of humour and fairness were hallmarks of his character. He took a bite from a bar of soap when he let a curse slip, a self-imposed rule that showed both his sternness and his mischievous good nature. He lived by example: stern when needed, but always fair, kind, and deeply loyal. Oliver also found great joy — and great friendships — as part of the Rock Maple Lodge sugar shack crew. In the early days, he could be found lugging heavy buckets of maple sap through the snow to boil it down for syrup. Eventually, the team got “sophisticated,” tapping and tubing the trees, but the camaraderie, laughter, and sense of tradition remained the same. His time there, like so much of his life, was rich with stories, good friends, and hard-earned sweetness. His beloved boat, Misty III, and his adventures with the “mermaids” at the W.G. Johnson Centre were also sources of great joy and countless stories. Above all else, Oliver loved helping others — whether with a project, a good meal, or simply his time. He took a big bite out of life, just like he would a favourite treat, and he leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and loyalty that will be forever cherished by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life was held at one of his favourite places — the Galt Curling Club — on Saturday, May 3rd from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The family invited you to honour him in true style: please wear your favourite sports jersey (bonus points for any Toronto team) and, of course, a pair of Crocs — because comfort and questionable fashion choices were kind of his thing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario or the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, two causes close to his heart. We’ll also be collecting non-perishable food items at the Celebration, so feel free to bring a can or two to help those in need — just like he always did.