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HomeNewsArchivesFORMER RESIDENT ROBYN FISHER DEAD AT 50

FORMER RESIDENT ROBYN FISHER DEAD AT 50

A part of the St. Thomas community was saddened this weekend to hear of the death of Robyn Fisher. Robyn was a fixture in the downtown scene all through the '70s with his ready smile, his long blond hair and blue eyes, his songs, his guitar playing and even his bartending. He had just turned 50 in July.
He died in San Francisco Saturday morning after a three-year bout with liver disease, which evolved into cancer. Robyn was an essential part of the Charlotte Amalie ambience of 30 years ago — back when you could go anywhere at anytime, have fun and feel safe.
Robyn moved to St. Thomas from Puerto Rico as the lead singer and guitar player with the Rainbow Blues Band. Long-legged, vivacious Patty Gober moved here from Puerto Rico, too, and became Robyn's wife in a celebration at Thatch Farm, a huge party.
Robyn worked in Frenchtown at Alfredo's where his good friend Ted Luscz — whom he called his mentor — showed him the finer points of tending bar. Luscz, still shocked on Sunday, searched for words to do Robyn justice: "He was always smiling. He never really had anything bad to say about anybody or anything. He always looked for the good."
After Alfredo's, Robyn moved downtown to L'Escargot, where Jon Pierre Micheustein hired him as maitre d', a job he loved. And so did all his admiring female friends who would drop by to see him at lunch. That smile got to everybody. (I know this to be true!)
Along with Timmy Ellison, Terri Solomon-Schirmer and Pat Deery, Patty arranged lots of the band's music while tending bar at Fat City. The band played in Timmy's nightclubs (whose names nobody can remember) and Mandahl music festivals.
Jeff Smith, like everyone on St. Thomas who knew Robyn, was stunned to hear of his death. "I really liked him, really," he said. Another old buddy, Pete Whims, who used to sing and play guitar with Robyn just for fun, said, "I loved him. I loved his company, and enjoyed him so much."
Terri, who was visiting Patty and Robyn in San Francisco, wrote to friends on St. Thomas a few days before Robyn died. "Pray for Robyn and Patty," she said. "Patty needs lots of prayers. She is losing the love of her life. They were married for 27 years, and he is her life. He brought so much sunshine into so many lives, and Robyn was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow." Patty and Robyn moved to San Francisco in 1981, where they fell in love with the city and found new careers.
Robyn became an instructor and maitre d' at the prestigious California Culinary Academy for eight years. He later managed the Sharon Heights Country Club in Palo Alto, Calif., while Patty became a videographer for a law firm.
Robyn became ill three years ago and had to have a liver transplant. Terri said, "In February 2003 Robyn finally got a liver when he was just on the edge of dying. Everyone was thrilled. He came through the surgery like a champ with his always-positive attitude and wonderful smile, only to learn, that the pathology on his old liver revealed a cancerous tumor. And it was too late; the cancer had spread."
Patty and Terri say their St. Thomas friends can contact them at BiteSz77@aol.com.
The funeral will be held Tuesday in San Francisco at Saint John of God Catholic Church on 5th and Irving at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Robyn Fisher Scholarship at the California Culinary Academy, 620 Polk St., San Francisco, CA, 94102.

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