Champe Andrews Fisher passed away peacefully in Stuart, Florida on Sunday, April 29, 2018.
Born on August 22, 1928, to Frederick and Genevieve Fisher, he was delivered at his home in Brockton, Massachusetts by his maternal Grandfather, Dr. Ezra Warren Clark. Champe was the youngest of four very rambunctious boys - Frederick Jr., Clark and Donald. The family moved to Waban when he was five and he attended Angier Elementary School, Warren Junior High School and Newton High School where he earned the Senior Cup presented for character, service, leadership and scholarship.
A lifetime summer resident of Sagamore Beach, he and his mother worked in the Old Sagamore Beach Post Office for many summers. He lobstered, sailed, and played tennis with his three brothers in their youth and, in later years, they sailed many times to the Vineyard and Nantucket and even attempted a harrowing circumnavigation of Cape Cod.
Champe graduated from Newton High in 1946 and attended Yale University. He was a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity. After graduation, he enrolled in Harvard Law School but left to serve as a Captain in the Marine Corps in Korea. He returned to Harvard after the war and graduated in 1955. He began his career at Ropes & Gray that year where he practiced law until his retirement in 1997. His practice focused on banking, mergers and acquisitions and securities law. Also, he served as a Managing Partner and Chairman of the Corporate Department.
Champe married his junior high school sweetheart, Patty, whom he defeated for class president in the 7th grade. They raised their four children in West Newton following a brief layover in veterans housing in Oak Hill Park where they made many lifelong friends.
Champe believed in the importance of community service and was active in organizations including: The Newton United Way Fund, Newton YMCA, Newton North Meserve Scholarship Fund, Newton Zoning Bond of Appeals, and West Newton Savings Bank. He also served as Chairman of the Business Law Section of the Boston Bar Association as well as a Trustee at Lasell College, Brae Burn Country Club and Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries- the organization founded by Patty’s grandfather, Edgar J Helms.
Champe was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Patricia Helms Fisher, his second wife, Shirley Vincent Brackett Fisher and his brothers Frederick Jr, Clark and Donald. He is survived by his children Candace (Mark) Quenzel of West Hartford, CT, Champe (Anne) Fisher Jr. of Chadds Ford, PA, Sarah Elizabeth Fisher of Charlestown, MA and Karen (Franklyn) Thompson of West Newton, MA, his step children Dana (Carol Ann) Brackett, Wendy (Nick) Franco, and Christian (Priscilla) Brackett. He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren whom he adored: Jared Quenzel, Champe III, Caroline, and Sam Fisher and Sarah and William Thompson and his sister-in-law Maurine Helms Lee. He treasured dearly his many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his companion Margaret Callahan of Stuart, FL.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, May 29th at The Second Church, 60 Highland Street, West Newton, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Champe’s memory may be made to The Edgar Helms Society at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, 1010 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02119 or Massachusetts General Hospital Fund, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114.