Dr. Charles W. Fischer Jr.
Dr. Charles W. Fischer Jr. known as Charlie, was born at the Atlanticare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City campus on June 21st 1927. He was born to Mr. Charles w. Fischer SR. and to Edna Fischer (Aldefer). Mr. Fischer was also oldest of three children. He had two younger sisters; Betty Ann and Francis. Until he got married, Mr. Fischer lived with his family on the third floor of Fischer Flowers (1622 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City) Mr. Fischer, after high school attended college at Cornell University. There he earned a bachelor's degree (1947) and a PhD (1951). He also joined several groups including the American chemical society, Pi Alpha Xi, and the academic society of Phi Beta Kappa. After college, Charles Fischer JR. had an interest in the family's business- Fischer green houses and Fischer Flowers. Mr. Fischer was especially interested in Fischer greenhouses. There, he became 4th generation of the family owned and operated business as well as spent many hours working on the plants and coming up with new varieties of African Violets. Mr. Fischer also opened a flower shop in Haddon Hall hotel. The plant industry was his passion and his life. His car would be full of dirt. He could literally plant flowers in his car. He would, looking a mess, put a nice suit on straighten his hair and then go to a important event or meeting. He would come back, mess his hair up and go right to the greenhouses. They were his life. His African Violets were known about nationally and internationally. He was also a annual vendor of the Philadelphia flower show and a member and participant of the Seely Conference at Cornell. Charles then married his love of many years Eugenia Fischer (Vellner). Together in 1969, they had there first and only child, Charles Eugine. Charles grew up on a house by the Atlantic Ocean in Ventnor NJ. The house was also where Eugenia grew up and where her parents moved to from Pennsylvania. The house played a special part of the growing up of Charles and is still full with childhood memories. The house was made in 1917 and first owned by a ship captain before the Vellner's had bought it. He was a good Christian and a good Conservative. Mr. Fischer would always refer to the business as a "God glorifying business". To him it was. Mr. Fischer, in his later years, would secretly lower the prices at Fischer Flowers and he would always cut people a break with money if they needed one. Mr. Fischer was always a true patriot. He loved politics and freedom. He knew what a great country America is and he wanted to do his part of keeping it great. Even a few months before his death, he was rejoicing that Obama was out of office! Mr. Fischer was a faithful parishioner of St. Andrew by the Sea Lutheran church in Atlantic City. There, he was a leader in many ways including a deacon. He went to church and enjoyed hearing the word of God. On May 21st 1989, Eugenia lost the hard and long battle of breast cancer. Charles at the only time was 19. He had just been on break and came up from college to find out that his mother was in the hospital. After hard times, there was some good. In 2002, Charles was getting married! Mr. Fischer was quite excited to hear the news! Charles got married to his lovey wife Jennifer Fischer (Meisenhelter). Today they are still together and just had there 15th wedding anniversary. Mr. Fischer got to speak during the wedding for his son. In 2005, Charles and Jennifer had their first child and Mr. Fischer's first grandchild - Alexis Eugenia. Alexis gave her Pop Pop the honorable title of "Pop Pop Plants" because of the memories she had of him working in the greenhouses. Then, in 2009, Charles and Jennifer had their second child, Alexis's first sibling, and Mr. Fischer's second grandchild. They named him Jacob. Mr. Fischer was very excited and felt blessed to have two grandchildren. Alexis and Jacob spent as much time as possible talking to him and going over to see him. Mr. Fischer's closest friends were Ben and Barbara Lei. The Lei's were very good friends. Since they were all German, the three of them went on a trip to Germany. Mr. Fischer was very close to them. They were friends until his death. Mr. Fischer was also very close to his cousin Francis Weir. In his later life, when Alexis was around the age of 2, Charles was diagnosed with Demensia. He also had started to not be able to walk as well. It started to progress and soon, he wasn't able to hear as well either. Mr. Fischer started to use a walker and then years after used a wheelchair and then soon after was confined to a hospital bed. In January of 2017, he was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. After being home for about a month, he was taken back to the hospital. There, he started to use a catheter and really didn't seem well. He had stopped eating. The Fischer's decided to give him a feeding tube. There, in the hospital he told the family while crying to "take care of your health" and said, "I love you all." He was taken back home. Then on March 11, 2017 he was taken back there and died near 7 o'clock at night with his pastor and family beside him.
Mr. Fischer's funeral was taken place on 3/18/17 at Saint Andrew by the Sea. His funeral was by Jefferies and Keates funeral home. There, there were three very special pieces done by Fischer Flowers. The first was a red heart standing spray. In the heart it said "Pop Pop" in white. That was from the 7 year old (Jacob). Next was a white cross standing spray. It had a ribbon that went across on it that read "Pop Pop Plants" and it was written by Alexis who was 11 at the time. Then from the whole family was a wreath that was very earthy and had African violets on it. After the service, they went to Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays landing. There, Mr. Fischer's wife and her parents are buried. The Fischer's took the African violets out of the wreath so they wouldn't die. That's what he would have wanted.
After the funeral, they went to the Smithville Inn in Smithville for some lunch. There, everyone was given an African Violet and attached was a poem that Alexis had written:
"Pop Pop Plants Always in our Hearts"
By: Alexis Fischer
This violet you now hold, Reminds us of many stories told, By a man named Mr. Fischer, Who loved these plants- they were his joy, Even when he was just a boy. But now that he is with the Lord, We can't afford, To loose all the memories. So we are giving each one of you an African Violet. Keep the plant living and each time you look at it... You will remember my "Pop Pop Plants". In loving Memory of Dr. Charles W. Fischer Jr. 6/21/27- 3/11/17" Even thought he is gone, the family still remembers him and continues to love him. Some of there fondest memories of him are.... When he would hike with Charles in the Adirondacks When Jacob would walk on Mr. Fischer's walker When he would come over for dinner When Alexis gave him Basil and he are everything including the leaves When he would lick his plate When the whole family went to Williamsburg with him When they went to Pirate's Den in Brigantine for his birthday dinner every year When he took his hearing aides out and put them on a china plate When he came to Alexis and Jacob's piano recitals When he surprised Alexis with a black baby grand piano for Christmas When he gave Alexis, for the last birthday she would have with him, the family's violin that he played When the family told him that Donald Trump was the new president. He said in a really high and baby like voice: "Obama? Bye Bye!" When He was sleeping in the hospital and a lady wanted to give him food he said in a normal voice, "Shut up!" Alexis and family are sure that he still sticks around. Jennifer one time went to the flower shop to pick up Alexis' dress for the funeral. On her way out, she smelled pipe. He smoked pipe. The next day, one of the designers asked Jennifer if Jacob had been in the store after closing and was eating peanut butter. He hadn't. The designer showed Jennifer that there was peanut butter on the floor splattered. It was peanut butter. There was no way that could have happened through the mail slot either In the door. When Jennifer had been there the night before, it wasn't there. He used to pack either a tuna sandwich or peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Then, one day Alexis was walking in one of the greenhouses and smelled him. It sounds weird, but he had a very distinct smell and she could smell it. She said, "It wasn't scary but rather comforting." She hadn't been thinking about him either. Another time, Jennifer, Alexis and Jacob where food shopping. Alexis smelled it and said that she smelled something but didn't say what it was. Jacob said, "Pop Pop!" They both smelled it, but there mother didn't! One time, they visited his grave and then went to the Hamilton mall, there they saw a van for his church! It was very strange. The last thing is that Alexis will look at the clock and see the time 3:11. She says, " It's very strange. At first it scared me, but I'm used to it and I love it. It's very comforting and it makes me think that my Pop Pop is looking down at me and reminding me that he's still with me."
Dr. Charles W. Fischer Jr. was an amazing person and I haven't even scratched the surface on what an incredible person he truly was.
References[edit]
Personnal interview--- Alexis Fischer 6/17/18
Dr. Charles W. Fischer Jr.[edit]
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