Franklin G. “Greg” Fisk did many things in his life and you may have known him in any number of ways. Please share with us your personal stories, memories, and thoughts of Greg Fisk, below.
Franklin G. “Greg” Fisk did many things in his life and you may have known him in any number of ways. Please share with us your personal stories, memories, and thoughts of Greg Fisk, below.
From my years as organist at First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo, I remember Greg Fisk fondly as an exceptionally engaging parishioner who appreciated and supported worship and music in the congregation. Greg consistently showed spiritual gifts of enthusiasm and encouragement, always eager to share his responses, thoughts, and feelings in a positive and helpful way.
Greg often reported about music he had experienced elsewhere and was especially enthusiastic about the creation of new music. As just one example, he brought me a treasure trove of new organ compositions from Eastern Europe at a time when they would otherwise have been entirely unavailable in this Hemisphere. His enthusiastic love of music—in worship and elsewhere—seems a lasting legacy in the lives of his family, church, and community.
Though I knew Greg as the father of some of my friends at First Baptist when I was growing up there, I did not grow to fully appreciate him as an individual until I returned to Kalamazoo in 2001, and among my activities was running the Community Arts Program (CAP) at First Baptist. As a composer,cellist, and new music enthusiast myself, I found my efforts to bring performances of all kinds of music to the CAP, but especially new music, resonated loudly with Greg. He was always a great supporter of our concerts, and especially vocal after the programs of ensembles we presented performing new music and premiering new works. He engaged performers in conversation after the programs, with great insights into the works performed, as well as news of other new compositions he had heard recently. He made an impression on many of these musicians, who, though many of them met him only once, retained vivid memories of their talks with him.
I have particular warm memories of his presence and support at the very special presentation we did of the Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time on a Good Friday, and my concert to release my first CD. Also, there were many conversations when I would hear, always with great enthusiasm, about new works he’d heard at Tanglewood, sometimes hearing the name of a rising young composer or performer first from him.
It was always wonderful to see Greg in the audience of one of our concerts. I
appreciated his passion for new music, and loved to be able to share my
performances with him, or to discuss with him his latest excursion to NY to hear
some cutting edge music there.
He will be missed, but in my thoughts during the next contemporary music I play!
Brad Wong
I remember Greg most through a number of vignettes:
=>We still lived on Sunnybrook Dr., when on a nice sunny afternoon Greg arrives on his newly acquired mountain bike with an old fashioned rubber bulb brass horn mounted on the handlebar, honking away happily for us and all to hear.
=>He was helping an English -speaking emphasized- course in the Genetics Institute in Budapest. Among the students were two young female physicians. One of whom eventually migrated to the U.S. Greg kept track of their life happenings for years, and dutifully informing Gyula about them. If you wanted a loyal friend, Greg sure was one.
=>On another joint trip to Europe, Kay, Greg, Sarolta and Gyula arrived at the Frankfurt airport. Greg had previous experience with Gyula’s somewhat assertive driving. As we arrived in Frankfurt to pick up a rental car which turned out to be a BMW, Greg insisted that Sarolta should drive. As we got out on the autobahn without speed limit, Sarolta soon joined the flow of traffic at 100 miles per hour. Both Greg and Kay set in the backseat speachless, probably praying for their own survival.
=>As a fellow faculty member, I was always inspired by his total dedication to teaching of science and to his students. I’m afraid I could never measure up to his enthusiasm and dedication.
=>Our son Philip arrived home back from his music high school in Hungary in 1990. He asked Greg why they have a particular type of toilet in Europe, in which the deposit sits there before flushing. To which Greg replied: I guess they like to look at their s….t.
=>At one time Greg, Kay, and I (Gyula), were walking by a beautiful old reformed church in Kiskunhalas, HU where I was born. As we walked by, an old lady was sweeping the sidewalk. We stopped to chat. The old lady turns to me (Gyula) and asks in hungarian ‘are they your parents’? I said ‘yes’. Truth to be told, Greg was only five years older than I, and Kay and I were born on the same day and year. After this, whenever I had a chance I called Greg ‘dad’ and Kay ‘mom’. We always had a good laugh.
Greg, I’ll miss you,
Gyula
We will always fondly remember the wildly entertaining dinners with the Cordier’s. Talk ranged from trying to recall books read in high school to current rants about politics. Much laughter and much sharing of though. It’s good to have such great memories. Our deepest condolences to you and the family.
George & Elizabeth Miller
It is with great sadness that Lyn and I learned of Greg’s passing upon our return to Michigan. We both remember him fondly, Lyn for his infectious enthusiasm and I as a fellow teacher in the College of General Studies and intellectual colleague interested in the history and philosophy of science. Greg demanded much from both his students and his colleagues, and, I am certain, we are all the better for it. Our offices were nearby for much of my career at Western, offering countless opportunities for long and fruitful conversations on science and science education.
Our thoughts and our hearts go out to Kay and the rest of Greg’s family. Greg will be missed, but fondly remembered.
Greg was my colleague in Teacher Education at WMU, and my friend. I admired his quick-silver mind and his far-reaching, knowledgeable interests in education, science, and contemporary music. His on-going dedication to his many students dated from his high school teaching days to his most recent students at the university. Greg will remain in our memories. Mary Cordier
Greg Fisk and I shared a common interest in contemporary classical music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. We enjoyed listening to Bartok and Shostakovich, Ligeti and Schnittke, Ives, Lou Harrison and John Adams, and a host of other composers. I will always remember the music we enjoyed together.
Sherwood Cordier
Dear Kay and Family,
Jo and I were surprised and saddened to learn of Greg’s death. For years he served as our link to Ollin Drennan and now they both are gone. Please accept our sincere and heart-felt condolences as well as our best wishes in the future.
Jo and Dave DeShon
Dr. Greg Fisk was beloved by students and colleagues alike. He was a star in two parts of Western Michigan University: Education and Science. Ed was Greg’s Education colleague and always valued his insights. During the Korean War Greg served as a mess sergeant and loved to feed the troops. He will certainly be missed. We extend our deepest sympathy to the family.
My condolences to the Fisk family on your loss, and my love to all of you. My memories of Greg are from a few decades ago (in high school I was a member of First Baptist Church and closer friends with his children) and have faded with time, but my impressions of his generous spirit and great sense of humor remain. The description of the service scheduled for this afternoon is wonderful and I pray that it will be, for the family and friends, both healing and celebratory.