Joseph J. Fisch, Jr., a New Canaan resident for 39 years, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Memorial Day, May 27, at his home in Naples, Florida. He was 75.
Joseph Fisch Jr., 75, passed away on May 27. His funeral will be held on June 13.
Joe was born in Huntington, New York to Joseph J. Fisch, Sr. and Grace M. (Dunsmore) Fisch. The family settled in Northport, New York where he and his two older brothers grew up enjoying the north shore beaches of Long Island Sound. He reminisced of water skiing across the Sound to Connecticut as a teenager and was proud of his East Coast roots.
After living in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and Winnetka, Illinois, Joe returned to his beloved East Coast and raised his family in New Canaan.
In his collegiate years, Joe was a gifted athlete who excelled in baseball and football. He was a tough competitor with unrelenting drive to be the best in all that he did.
When he received football scholarships from several colleges, his father persuaded him to branch out from the East Coast and attend a Midwestern school. Bowling Green State University (Ohio) turned out to be a good choice. Joe attributed his many business successes to the education he received at Bowling Green’s School of Business.
The Midwest influence did not stop there. He also met the love of his life and wife of nearly 51 years, Gayle Lynn Grow, a co-ed from Cleveland. Upon graduation in 1971, Joe began a 25-year career in the beverage industry with Joseph E. Seagram & Sons Corporation in New York City. He quickly rose to various senior executive positions while at Seagram, the last of which was President of the Seagram Beverage Company until 1996, when he left the corporate sector to start his own company.
Joe’s ambitions of growing a family business resulted in the founding of United States Beverage (USB) in 1997. He led the company to worldwide recognition as a top marketing and sales organization in the premium beverage industry.
Joe was a mentor to many employees but his greatest pride came when his son, Justin, joined USB in 2002. The two worked side-by-side to carry out their entrepreneurial strategies for the family business, which became the No. 1 independent beer importer in the United States.
Joe’s family was his most precious gift in life. An incredible husband and father, quality time with his children and wife was a must and his love for his family was obvious. He was devoted to teaching his children his principles of family values: spirituality, positivity, confidence, never quitting and love.
Whether lacrosse, hockey, baseball or field hockey, his support for his three children was unwavering. Always a competitor, his distinctive positive cheers (screams) could be heard from the sidelines, annoying only those referees with whom he occasionally disagreed.
His children will not forget their dad’s congratulatory “bear hugs” at the end of their games, which were equivalent to trophies, no matter the outcome. Joe carried his legacy to his nine grandchildren’s athletic events as well, no screaming, all smiles of pride.
Aside from family, Joe became a trusted, loyal friend to many. As and avid golfer, he was a 35 year member of Woodway Country Club, and more recently, The Bay Colony Golf Club of Naples, Florida. The golf courses at Woodway and Bay Colony were his playground, where he enjoyed the competition, camaraderie and laughter of his golf cronies. It was a recess well deserved.
Joe Fisch will be remembered for his infectious laugh, friendly personality, witty stories and love for everyone his life touched.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle L Fisch and their children, Justin J. Fisch (Brooke), Candace Hewit and Lauren Reed (Tyler) all of Darien; and his brothers, Robert Fisch of Arroyo Grande, California and Thomas Fisch of Naples, Florida. He is forever cherished by his nine grandchildren: Jay Fisch, Ryan Fisch, Campbell Fisch, Tommy Fisch, Grace Hewit, Hardy Hewit, Jacquelyn Hewit, Bodie Reed and Blakely Reed. He is preceded in death by his infant daughter, Jacquelyn Lacey Fisch; son-in-law, Russell L. Hewit, Jr. and parents, Joseph J. Fisch, Sr. and Grace Dunsmore Fisch.
A celebration of life Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2024, at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, 374 Middlesex Rd. Darien, followed by a reception from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the Terrace & Noroton Room, Main Clubhouse, Woodway Country Club, 540 Hoyt St. Darien. Interment will be rivate
— an obituary from Lawrence Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left