To increase the public understanding of science.
Arthur Fisher
Science Editor Emeritus Popular Science
Arthur Fisher, 77, science and technology editor of Popular Science magazine for nearly three decades died on Tuesday, July 22 after a long illness. He was a National Association of Science Writing member for 40 years and was a longtime member of the board of CASW.Fisher was born in New York City on March 10, 1931. A 1947 graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, he received a B.A. degree in 1951 from New York University and went on to earn the equivalent of an M.A. degree in French language and literature. Before accepting the post at Popular Science, he was managing editor at Senior Science and Science World, both published by Scholastic Magazines for high-school students.
Fisher joined Popular Science in 1969 and remained with the publication until his retirement as executive editor in 1996. During his career, he wrote hundreds of articles on chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, health and medicine, photography, animal behavior, music, and architecture for numerous periodicals and annuals.
In addition to his writings for the news- and adventure-driven readership of Popular Science, Fisher also reached science-trained opinion leaders through the National Science Foundation's publication Mosaic and the highly educated lay public through the New York Times Magazine. His work also appeared in The Reader's Digest, GEO, Science 84, and Time-Life Nature/Science Annual.
"He had an uncommon ability to fine-tune his delicious writing style to many different audiences," said Ben Patrusky, CASW executive director.
The winner of several prestigious writing awards, Fisher received the Blakeslee Award in 1981 from the American Heart Association for The Healthy Heart, published by Time- Life Books, in which he explains the problem of cholesterol. He has also received awards from the American Institute of Physics (1985), the AAAS-Westinghouse Science Journalism Award (1986), and the National Society for Medical Research (1978). In 1988, Fisher received the American Chemical Society's 1988 James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public.
Fisher served at one time on the membership committee and the Science-in-Society awards committee of the National Association of Science Writers and was the first "Our Gang" columnist for ScienceWriters. He was also the chairman of the Task Force on Research of the New York Heart Association's Communications Council.
Fisher was also a much-published photographer whose work was exhibited at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Nikon House.
"A well-traveled, multi-lingual bon vivant with a wide range of interests and vast stores of knowledge about literature, the arts, music -- you name it -- Arthur was esteemed by his colleagues as much for his editorial gifts as his deliciously witty presence," said Patrusky. "He was quite simply a joy to be around anywhere, anytime but most especially as the grand drinking and dining companion that he invariably was. Fact is, for those of us lucky enough to have Arthur turn up in a press room, he was our ultra-reliable, all- knowing epicure, who, no matter city or region, always showed us the way to great culinary adventure and memorable martinis."
Fisher was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Liliane (Linette) Fisher, who died on Feb. 5, 2008. They are survived by a son, Tony.