ORANGE — Joanna Fisher had many interests, including children, the outdoors, cooking and the Quabbin. Her death from injuries sustained during an Oct. 5, 2016 home invasion — in which her 95-year-old husband, Thomas A. Harty, was killed — shocked the community.
Now, a group of women have found a way to pay tribute to Fisher.
Starting April 22, Wheeler Memorial Library will be the home for a month-long display of children’s and adult books. The group decided to buy books based on Fisher’s interests for the tribute. After a month, the books will be paired with an inside label featuring a picture and brief tribute to Fisher and will become part of the permanent collection at the Orange Wheeler and Moore-Leland libraries.
According to the Rev. Candi Ashenden, who is a member of the group, people throughout the community often commented that some type of tribute should be established in Fisher’s memory.
“Joanna was a close personal friend of mine for 20 years,” she said.
Anyone with a suggested book title or a question about this project can contact Ashenden at 978-544-2801 or revcandi@gmail.com. The group is also seeking donations to help pay for the books. Contributions should be sent to Rev. Candi Ashenden, 49 Charles St., Orange, MA 01364 by Thursday. Checks should be made out to Town of Orange, with “Library Fisher Tribute” on the memo line.
Ashenden said a library-themed tribute was fitting, given “all her work with children and families and literacy.” She said Fisher was a founder and director of Valuing our Children, an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of youngsters, in Athol, where she established the Nurturing Program. Fisher also co-founded “Starry Starry Night,” Orange’s New Year’s Eve celebration, and worked with the Athol Senior Meals Program.
Her son, Larry Fisher, previously said his mother was involved with founding the Pioneer Junior Women’s Club, and The Oracle, a now-defunct volunteer weekly newspaper in Orange.
He said she was born in New Haven, Conn., and graduated from East Haven High School in 1957. He said she met Harty around 1980 through their passion for hiking, and the two married on Jan. 30, 1998.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.