The UNCW community celebrates and remembers the life of Sylvia Watson Fisher ’50, the matriarch of the Fisher family, known for her longtime dedication to the university. She passed away on June 11 at age 93.
Fisher and her husband, the late Herbert T. Fisher ’53, met at New Hanover High School, where they were both cheerleaders, and attended Wilmington College, as UNCW was known in its early years. Herb passed away in May 2018 at age 88. Over the years, they both fondly remembered their college days. Sylvia was named the college’s first Homecoming Queen.
After college, the Fishers raised their family in Wilmington, where Herb, an entrepreneur, became a successful business owner and realtor. For many years, he operated the Varsity, a Wilmington eatery that served as an unofficial student center for generations of Seahawks. Many members of their family have attended UNCW, including son Carlton ’83, chair of the UNCW Board of Trustees, his wife Julie ’83, and their son Mason, ’16.
Sylvia and Herb believed in giving back to their community, and UNCW held a special place in their hearts. Over the years, they supported scholarships, cheered for the Seahawks at countless games, and attended many university events. Students and alumni recognize the Fisher name from the student center and student union, the field house and the memorial garden, named after Herb’s sister, Emily Fisher Hunter.
“The Seahawk community will long remember Sylvia Watson Fisher for her kind and generous spirit and for the opportunities she and her beloved Herb gave to generations of students,” said Chancellor Aswani K. Volety. “She will be missed.”
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