Karen Fisher died May 11, 1993 after a dauntless battle with cancer.
Born Karen Sue Fisher on September 5, 1941 in Salt Lake City to Clarence M. and Elnora Atkinson Fisher, she graduated from East High School in 1959, and moved to San Jose, California after her freshman year at the University of Utah. An extraordinary athlete, she worked for San Jose City Parks and Recreation. She graduated from West Valley Community College in Los Gatos, California, where she pioneered the Women's Resource Center. She also attended San Jose State University, after which she returned to Salt Lake City in 1974 and graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Utah in 1976. She was listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.Beginning in 1976, Karen worked for ten years in Academic Advising at the U, first as an advisor and then as Associate Director. She earned an M.S.W. from the Graduate School of Social Work at the U in 1978, serving an internship at the Women'sResource Center, where she later taught a variety of classes. Upon finishing her M.S.W., she became Director of Academic Advising, served on the Liberal Education Committee for three years, and chaired the President's Task Force on Career Development. One of her greatest achievements was creating excellent opportunities and support systems for non-traditional students.
In 1984 she co-founded Martin & Fisher, an agency providing counseling for individuals, groups, couples, and families. In 1989 she co-founded and was co-director of Millcreek Counseling Center, where she was well-known in Salt Lake as a compassionate feminist therapist, and active community organizer, and an ardent advocate of women's issues.
She is survived by her loving partner, Judy Rose, who cared for her with in exhaustible generosity, kindness, and devotion; by her three children: two sons, Jeffrey Evan Fisher and Kelly Jon Moskalik (and fiancee Jeanne Yochum), and daughter, Lisa Moskalik (and partner Damon Kuemmel); by her father, Clarence, and two brothers and sisters-in-law: Merrill Fisher and wife Linda, California; Stephen Fisher and wife, Diane and by nieces and nephews, Rachelle (and husband Tracy), Jennifer, Richard, and Casey; and by friends too numerous to count.
Karen was our loving companion, wonderful mother, devoted daughter, sister, therapist, teacher, writer, humorist, colleague, mentor, and friend.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, 12 Noon, May 15, 1993 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 So. Highland Drive, where friends may call on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday one hour prior to services. Interment, Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
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