Frederick ("Fred") Joseph Fisher Obituary (1935 - 2019)

Born Jan 18, 1935, Frederick ("Fred") Joseph Fisher was faculty at Branham High School in San Jose, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Frederick ("fred") Joseph Fisher.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Birth	Jan 18, 1935
Date of Passing	Apr 09, 2019
About	Fred was a beloved high school biology teacher at Branham HS during his teaching career. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1958 with a Bachelor's degree in Zoology and received his secondary teaching credentials in biology and social science from San Jose State College (June,1960). Fred taught biology at Del Mar HS (1960-1961), Blackford HS (1961-1967), Branham HS (1967-1991), and Leigh HS (1991-1997), all in the San Jose area. The 1964 Blackford HS Yearbook and the 1970 Branham HS yearbook were each dedicated to Fred in the third year after each school had first opened. --- Fred was an active environmentalist and started the “Student Action For Environment” (SAFE) campus club at Branham HS following the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Fred had an abiding love for Yosemite National Park: he spent many family vacations there as a child; he worked there as a seasonal Interpretive Ranger during his summer teaching breaks, and he volunteered for the Yosemite Association (now the Yosemite Conservancy) into retirement. During spring (Easter) breaks, Fred assembled groups of students to attend a week-long Yosemite Institute environmental education program at Yosemite NP. Many students noted how that experience “changed their lives”. --- After Fred retired from teaching in 1997, he started a lapidary-jewelry hobby and business called "Naturals from the Earth." Fred's favorite saying in the classroom at the end of class was "Go hug a tree." His family has suggested that former students plant a tree on behalf of Fred for those who wish to honor his memory.

Classmate Memories

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Jane Parks-mckay '70 said:

what a great guy. A large regret I've had is not taking more science classes. If I had had Mr. Fisher as a teacher, I'm sure that would have been rectified in quick order. RIP Mr. Fisher, we all miss you!

Posted March 18th, 2026

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Don Campton '70 posted a photo:

Mr. Fred Fisher was my most inspirational teacher throughout elementary school, high school, and college. Most fellow students who were fortunate to have Mr. Fisher for HS Biology have told me the same thing. May his memory live on forever.

Posted March 17th, 2026

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