Richard "Skip" Fischer

Richard “Skip” Fischer, 82, of Rock Creek, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Fairhill Acute Care Center in Cleveland. Born December 29, 1943, in Cleveland to Harold and Rose (Fortuna) Fischer, he lived a life shaped by service, adventure, and a deep devotion to family.

Skip’s journeys carried him across oceans and into distant corners of the world, yet his greatest joy was always found at home—family gathered around his table, stories shared, and laughter filling the room. Those moments were his life anchor.

At 18, he and a lifelong friend enlisted in the Navy. His strength, determination, and sharp mind quickly distinguished him, leading to specialized training in operations and foreign policy. Over 22 years of honorable service, he earned two Purple Hearts and served his country with pride and humility. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, he chose a path that kept him closer to his family, transitioning to submarine duty—where he liked to say he spent his days “playing tag with the whales.”

Growing up on a farm in the 1940s and ’50s instilled in Skip a lifelong love of the outdoors. Gardening, hunting, building, and reupholstering furniture were more than hobbies; they were expressions of his belief in working with one’s hands and honoring the land. He also enjoyed making homemade wine and took great pride in sharing his signature Rock Creek Red—and his homemade Baileys—with friends and family.

His dedication to values and service naturally led him into Boy Scouting leadership. Throughout his Navy career and long after retirement, he taught young men the essentials of survival, camping, citizenship, and patriotism. Many of the Scouts he mentored achieved the rank of Eagle Scout—a legacy he cherished deeply.

After retiring from the Navy, Skip continued to serve his community. His post military career began in Groton, Connecticut, where he worked at Electric Boat. Upon returning to Northeast Ohio, he served as the Administrator for the Village of Madison, later as an Emergency Planner at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, and finally in Lenox Township, where he could often be found on a tractor, tending to the community and its cemetery with care and pride.

Skip is survived by his sister Barbara Jopko, daughters Theresa M. (Tony) Vitalone, Andrea L. (Joe) Herrmann, and Khristina A. (Brian) Johnson; his son Richard A. (Rebecca) Fischer; granddaughters Kara Mia and Marrissa Vitalone, Isabel, Sophia, and Gabriela Fischer; grandson Andrew (Andrea) Magaline; and great grandson Andrew Magaline Jr. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara “Bobbi” (Prince) Fischer; his parents; and his sister, Nancy Ray.

Friends may call from 2–5 p.m. on Sunday, February 15th at the Behm Family Funeral Home, 26 River St., Madison, OH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 16th at Immaculate Conception Church, 2846 Hubbard Rd., Madison, OH 44057. Interment will follow at North Madison Cemetery.
Online obituary and guestbook available at www.behmfuneral.com.