Tim Fisher remembered, praised, missed in memorial service

Like the successful café owner he was, Tim Fisher filled the place to overflowing his final shift: a memorial service for him at Maple Hall Monday afternoon. His 75 friends, family, customers, employees and his husband, Patrick Ball, had to take their chairs and move to the main hall from the Town Council meeting room. Fittingly, it was set for feeding the crowd, catered by Sliders Café, the restaurant he opened with Ball in April 2017. Fisher, 53, died Jan. 20 from cancer.

Father Paul Magnano, pastor of La Conner’s Sacred Heart Church, officiated this “Celebration of Life.” He noted “Tim’s church was the Café,” and as if reading one of the many signs in the Morris Street restaurant, said what might have been Fisher’s, or Magnano’s, motto: “All I need today is a bit of coffee, Jesus and stories.” For the next half hour or so the community shared stories of their relationship with Fisher and the impact he and the Cafe has on them and on La Conner.

Marilynn Olson said, “Tim and Pat gave us the gift of what I call the ‘gathering place.’ Always it’s the place we went to when we are in La Conner.”

Gem Tartaglia recounted when Sliders transformed from a new breakfast place to one owned by two gay guys. She said, “I went wow!” and threw both her arms in the air. “They are real and full of love.” Speaking to the audience, she said “And he loved each and every one of you in that unforgettable way. I feel grateful to have had him in my life.”

The touchstone people came back to repeatedly was the pre-Christmas caroling organized by members of the La Conner Soroptimists, Shelter Bay Chorus and the local Catholic and Methodist Church choirs. The 18 singers brought joy to themselves as well as happiness to Fisher. A Soroptimist called it the best day, for Fisher and everyone attending. Ball told the gathering that afterwards Fisher watched the video of it. “The experience you gave him, he was cherished, loved, he was overwhelmed. The hardest part of the cancer was that he couldn’t be in the restaurant. He loved you guys.”

Felicia Value recounted a little girl neighbor of the Sedro-Woolley couple who was almost literally pulled into the house by the singing. “That’s what he created,” she said. “That warmth of spirit. I’ll miss it. It’s a rare gift. It created a fondness and a fellowship you didn’t see anywhere else.”

Magnano related that Fisher said their caroling was his most cherished memory.

There were also stories of Fisher at the café. Rick Dole will never forget when “Tim was dressed as a giant piece of bacon.” Mark Stephens spoke to Fisher and Ball accepting his insistence that a good gyro needed pepperoncinis. The co-owners welcomed Stephens’ gift of a large jar of pepperoncinis and Stephens was always provided that condiment.

Older sister Tina Fisher and her daughter Nicole Lee Nis-kanen – Lee is also Fisher’s middle name, she pointed out – spoke through sobs, their voices breaking. Fisher read a eulogy she had written on her smart phone, a biography of her brother, who was not athletic and had “brains, not brawn. He didn’t study but was an honor student,” she recalled. She also shared that time and time again his attitude was “Oh, well. On to the next big thing.” When she came up from Oregon and saw Sliders, she said she was blown away. “This was his legacy and he got to live his legacy out. And he found the love of his life. I am so touched that Pat will continue the legacy.”

Father Paul ended the service saying, “the best news to God is that Sliders is staying open.” To applause Magnano invited the gathering to share in the bounty of food and to continue the conversation. Channeling Fisher, he said “Make yourselves at home.”

An account in Fisher’s and Ball’s names has been opened at the La Conner Washington Federal bank for donations.