There is More To Life Than You Thought

He didn’t wait for life to be over.

He kept doing. (and always did)

He kept giving. (and always did)

He quietly showed us how to live with strength, discipline, drive, tenacity, determination, self-motivation, grace, and presence.

This week, my family lost a great man.

Stephen Fisher, my Father-In-Law, passed away peacefully, on August 12, 2025, from complications of cancer. He was surrounded by his Daughters, Sons-In-Law, Grandchildren, and his Great Grandson.

But this isn’t just a remembrance.

It’s a reflection on character. 

The kind you can’t teach from a stage or a book, only by how you choose to live.

Stephen didn’t work at being a teacher, it came naturally.

He just was one.

Not by lecturing.

Not by raising his voice.

But by showing up and doing the things that mattered.

He taught instead of telling.

He explained instead of yelling.

He only gave his opinion when it was truly needed or when you asked.

That kind of quiet takes wisdom.

That kind of restraint takes strength.

For the past nearly 10 years, he battled liver cancer; he never complained, not once.

He didn’t wait for life to be over.

He lived it deeply, deliberately, fully, literally.

He juiced every day for his health.

He walked miles & counted his steps.

He read books, he cleaned, he cooked. He organized his pantry like it was an art form.

Last month during an unfortunate & unexpected 9-day ICU-hospital stay, he showed his strength, courage, determination, and zest for life by doing anything he could to get himself up & out of bed, so he could go back home. 

Although he had been sedated & sleeping for many days, with little food for energy, he began his rehab, self-motivated by simply lifting and lowering his small backpack while lying in his hospital bed to help his body start to move again.

Picture this, similar to lifting weights. As he was lying in his bed, he began lifting his small backpack, up and down, up and down. up and down. A few hours later, he was determined to sit in a chair.  Eyes still closed...he was moving his arms, left and right, left and right. Then he stood up. My sister in-law walked into the room, and was beaming... she put music on her phone, and the next thing i know, she and my wife were literally dancing with him in the room! It was amazing. He did what he said he was going to do, again.

Exercise to him, could be anything he was doing.

Watering his plants, cooking, or doing his laundry. Yes he walked miles, but all of his other daily activities he counted as his exercise, and he kept himself moving and doing. 

Being productive was important to him. The more he accomplished before 9am, was important to him.  The more he accomplished in a day, even after a procedure, or a treatment, was important to him. 

Known to all for "always doing what he said he was going to do.". This was his motto, he insisted it for himself, and expected others do do the same, for as long as any of us can recall.

Stephen wore a lot of hats: Business Executive, Founder & CEO, Franchise Owner, Teacher, Motivator, Artist, Singer, Photographer, Chef, Army Captain, Entrepreneur, Leader, Bridge Player, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Friend.

He had several ups and downs and big hurdles to overcome, but he never lost joy, discipline, or finesse as he tackled each one. 

To give you a clearer picture of what I mean, my kids recently told me that they didn't even realize Papa was sick, until just recently.  They knew, he had cancer, of course, but if you didn't know he had cancer, you would not know he had cancer. 

He looked great, was active and productive to his very last day. Everything of his was in order. He insisted on it. All of his material possessions were as perfect condition as he could contribute to by polishing, washing, & respecting.  

Everything he owned had a place. If an item was used, it was required by him to be put back exactly where it was. 

Order, Logic, Purpose, Convenience, Within Reason, & Enough. 

He had everything he needed and was very content and proud.

Whether it was a dinner for two or a party for 25 or more... He made everyone feel like they were his Guest of Honor. Whether you were a CEO or a child, he made you feel seen, heard, and welcome.

He didn’t just live.

He led by living.

And before he passed, he gave us one more gift, a quiet reminder that stuck with me:

“There’s more to life than you thought.”

He was right.

What can you learn from Stephen?

• You don’t have to wait to feel better before you do better.
• You don’t have to be loud to lead.
• You don’t have to be perfect to leave behind something powerful.
• So maybe today is the day you start juicing for your health, or begin cleaning your spaces and to create order, or tell a story or a joke to let someone know they are doing great, or start moving for exercise, or even bust out your version of a small backpack.

Stephen Fisher didn’t just leave behind memories.

He left behind a model.

Let's learn from his lessons & carry his legacy forward.

Before his final day on this planet, Stephen was in a deep sleep with all of his immediate family surrounding him. We didn't know if we would have the joy of talking to him again, and all left the hospital room hoping that the morning would bring us one more opportunity....

and it did. That final day, Stephen not only talked to us, but also sang and told jokes, and subtly taught us the importance of family, to appreciate what you have and take care of yourself and your possessions, to have a strong work ethic and to be educated, and always do what you say you are going to do.

We all agree, that what he said just a few weeks before, was foreshadowing and true.

"There was more to life than we thought."

Thankful, with so much gratitude, for Stephen Fisher's final gift and his legacy lessons.