Jon Fisher

Jon Kent Fisher, 60, passed from this earth to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004.

He was born Oct. 14, 1943, in Cape Girardeau, son of Elwood Vincent and Kathleen Barringer Fisher.

For the past decade he had lived in Houston, Texas, where he most recently was the west district fine arts coordinator for the Houston Independent School District.

Jon was a consummate teacher, mentor, counselor and friend to countless thousands of aspiring young musicians whom he guided with a strong yet velvet hand. He touched so many, many lives with his love and passion for music, always bringing out the best in all those he embraced. He was also an incredibly talented instrumentalist, playing almost every type of instrument, and his skills at composing and arranging music were second to none. He was indeed a musician's musician.

For 39 years Jon was the epitome of excellence for what a music educator should be, serving as band director at Sharpstown High School in Houston, head director of bands for Cape Girardeau School District, director of bands at Central, Glendale and Hillcrest High Schools in Springfield, Mo., as well as beginning his teaching career in 1965 as the director of bands in Essex, Iowa.

He had just retired from teaching this past June, but had retained a part-time position to continue his efforts to help young musicians succeed and blossom.

He was very proud of his many accomplishments along the way. He took his jazz bands to festivals from Mobile, Ala., to a tour of Europe in 1976. He was given the governor of Missouri's proclamation as their music ambassador to Europe and was twice elected to the Missouri Council for the Arts. He helped set the standard for what a marching band should be and took one of his best to the Fiesta Bowl.

He was a member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, Missouri Music Educators Association and the Texas Music Educators Association.

Jon was also a member of Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for 23 years, where for 14 of those years he served as its conductor. Recently he had been offered the position as the conductor of the Lone Star Concert Band in Houston.

From the age of 14 he had been a member or leader of various orchestras and big bands, always creating excellence within all of those organizations.

Jon graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor of music education degree and then went on to achieve his master of music education degree from Southeast a few years later. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu service fraternities. He was also a candidate for West Point as well as an Eagle Scout before entering college to major in music.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Toni; a son, Mark and wife Sherry of Cincinnati, Ohio, and stepgrandchildren Derrek and Amber of Laurenceberg, Ind.; a daughter Anne, and grandson John Michael of Houston; his mother Kathleen of Jackson; a brother David of Houston; a nephew Brian and wife Sonia of Houston; and niece Allison and husband Adam and their daughter Finley, also of Houston.

Jon was so very close to Toni's parents, John and Marie Brown of Springfield, and her brother Joe and wife Cindy of Omaha, Neb. John and Marie were like second parents to him. He so respected and loved them both dearly.

He was preceded in death by his father, Elwood Vincent Fisher.

From all of his family, friends, fellow teachers and students who loved him so very much, the following words fit so affectionately and appropriately for this music man who enriched all of our lives.

He earned his love through discipline

A thundering velvet hand.

His gentle means of sculpting souls

Took us years to understand.

The leader of the band is tired

And his eyes are growing old.

His blood runs through our instruments

And his song is in our souls.

We thank you for your kindness

And the times when you got tough.

And, Jon, we don't think

We said we love you nearly enough.

Our lives have been a poor attempt

To imitate this man.

We're just the living legacy

To the leader of the band.

We're just the living legacy

To this leader of the band.

We all miss you so very much, my brother.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Chapel, 12800 Westheimer Road in Houston, Texas, 77077 (218-497-2330).

The funeral will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Jonathan Bynum of First Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.