AMHERST – Richard F. “Dick” Fischer, 83, longtime resident of Amherst, NH, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2019 surrounded by his loving family.

Dick was born in Englewood, NJ, a son of James B. Fischer and Julia (Cattelona) Fischer. Following graduation from Dwight Morrow High School, he enlisted in the US Army and served during the Korean War era. Dick earned his bachelor’s degree in 1961 from Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey.

He had a 30-year career in human resource management for the Federal Aviation Administration. Dick was a proud grandfather who loved nothing more than to fill his family room with his kids, their kids, and all of their friends and families. The Fischer home was a gathering place for generations.

Dick’s oil painting of the Amherst 4th of July celebration won a town-wide contest and is used as the picture on library cards for Amherst residents. This painting features parade goers including his grandchildren and family friends. His favorite topic of his paintings was the Robert Frost house. Dick received numerous awards at local, regional, and national exhibits, including 9 Best in Shows and the Honors Award (1st place) for Oils at the Academic Artist Association’s 57th National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism in Art. He loved driving through New England and taking pictures that would become the scenes in his paintings.

Dick coached basketball for years for the Amherst Recreation Department and loved following “his” kids as they grew up to play in high school and college. Dick was a frequent fan in the stands of Milford and Souhegan High Schools, an active parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church, and an avid golfer at area courses.

Family members include his beloved wife of 58 years, Shirley (Cacace) Fischer of Amherst, NH; three daughters, Judy George and her husband Ken of Stratham, NH, Mary Barry and her husband Patrick of Duxbury, MA, Cathy Fischer-Mueller and her wife Jennifer of West Roxbury, MA; a son, Richard Fischer and his wife MaryKate of Reading, MA; a brother Jack Fischer and his wife Sonia of Steubenville, OH; eleven grandchildren, Christopher, Ally, Matt, Nora, Ben, Michael, Sean, Will, Maya, Lilley and Lauren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, James Fischer.

Calling hours are on Sunday, July 21st from 1:00-4:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 22 at 10:00 am in Saint Patrick Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. Burial will follow in Meadowview Cemetery, Amherst, NH. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SHARE Outreach, Inc., Milford, NH at sharenh.org or the American Lung Association.