Sam Fischer faced more than his fair share of challenges in his 89 years, but throughout these hardships he revealed an extraordinary strength of character.
Sam was the third of four children of Avraham and Gitel Fischer. He had three sisters, Esther, Rivka and Itka.
In 1942, Sam's entire immediate family was murdered, along with most of the Jews in Dunilowicze. Sam miraculously escaped the ghetto into the forest, spending a short time as a partisan fighter and eventually joining the army.
After the Holocaust, Sam had to begin life over again. He moved to Israel where he met and married Regina Edelman; their first daughter Nina was born there. In 1951, his aunt sponsored their immigration to Toronto, where their second daughter Gloria was born.
Times were tough, and Sam worked long hours. He became a scrap-metal worker, which demanded physical strength. He suffered several accidents that left him seriously injured and required multiple operations.
Sam was instrumental in the creation of the Lodzer Centre Holocaust Congregation, which was completed in 1981. He became the synagogue treasurer, a position he held for more than 25 years. Even after retiring, he remained an active member, attending services daily for as long as his health would allow.
Education was fiercely important to Sam, as his own was tragically cut short. He ensured that his children and grandchildren had no obstacles in their way to complete their studies. Some of his proudest moments were attending the graduations of his granddaughters, Evelyn, Melissa and Jordana. Sam always had great respect for the medical profession and inspired his eldest granddaughter Evelyn to become a physician.
Sam looked forward to retirement and to spending more time with his family and wife. In 1996, he was faced with another devastating loss when his beloved Regina succumbed at 68 to complications from Alzheimer's disease. His family was his strength and he turned to them for support, as well as concentrating all his energy into the synagogue.
Despite a sometimes tough exterior, his heart softened for the younger generation who renewed his will to live. Recognizing how much time he had to sacrifice with his children to provide for them, he promised to make up for it with his granddaughters. To them, there was nothing their Zaidie could not do. He was larger than life, and a true mensch.
Sam knew he had been dealt a tough hand in life, but he was a fighter until the end. His death leaves us with a gaping void. He is deeply missed and always in our hearts.
Evelyn Rubin is Sam's granddaughter.