FOR THE AGES

Max M. Fisher, 1908 - 2005

ART from page 27

probing. 'Why don't you redesign this? Why
don't you do that?' he would say. He viewed
the project as one of the city's anchors, like
Comerica Park, Ford Field and the Opera
House. The educational aspects of the proj-
ect were very important to him. He was
always thinking of the well being of Detroit
and the education of inner-city children. The
great center that resulted satisfied him as
being something to help the rebuilding of
the city."
Cummings said Fisher really enjoyed
attending concerts, but "I think he was
more interested in watching the conductor
and musicians very closely, trying to see
what made them tick," he mused. "He
loved to watch conductor Neemi Jarvi. He
said Jarvi had a very expressive face and
could get some musicians to do something
by just winking at them. He loved to study
people and was curious about everyone
and everything."

Tice Detroit Symphony Orchestra is sadden(' by
the passing of A4ax M. Fisher, a visionary leader and
friend of the organization. lAle zed/ honor him through
our music, today, and into the future,

MAX M. FISHER MUSIC CENTER

Cultural Visionary

Behind the scenes, Fisher played quiet roles
in other Detroit area communal arts proj-
ects, helping to found the (Montreux) Detroit
Ja77 Festival and bringing the Grand Prix
car race to the streets of downtown. His
interest in the Detroit Institute of Arts result-
ed in establishing the Max M. and Marjorie
S. Fisher Gallery there.
"He recently contributed a half-million
dollars to our $21-million capital campaign

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
is thankful to Max Fisher for his lifelong
dedication to our community.

Frankel

Orbach

Kratchman

Cummings

Cohen

DiChiera

His legacy will live on forever.

BARBARA ANN

KARMANOS

CANCER INSTITUTE

ITN

Wayne State University

I

Detroit Medical Center

3/10

2005

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to renovate the Opera House and build a
new learning center," said David DiChiera,
managing director of Michigan Opera
Theatre. "He understood the quality of the
arts and how important art projects and
education are to the city. His major initia-
tives provided an incredible force in the cul-
tural life of the city."
DiChiera recalls first meeting Fisher when
two of Fisher's daughters, Julie and
Marjorie, came to his Detroit home to take
piano lessons from his former wife, Karen.
"It's just remarkable how someone could
start in life with so little and end with so
much," DiChiera said. "It's something we
should all strive for."
Barbara Kratchman, president of
ArtServe, the Southfield-based nonprofit
organization whose mission is to build sup-
port for arts and culture throughout the
state, pointed out that Fisher was a vision-
ary who understood how art should be inte-
grated into facilities, along with the educa-
tional aspect, to create a bigger and better
city. "If more civic leaders understood this,
we would all be better off," she said. "I'm
glad that Peter Cummings is following in his
footsteps. He'll make sure that Max Fisher's
arts legacy is carried out."
While the Jewish Ensemble Theatre and
Detroit Chamber Music Society (DCMS) did-
n't benefit directly from Fisher's involve-
ment, officials of the two organizations
expressed their feelings on the impact of
his arts contributions to the community and
the enormity of his loss.
"He made major contributions to Jewish
culture by being active in so many organi-
zations and on so many levels of the arts
community," said JET Artistic Director
Evelyn Orbach of West Bloomfield. "The
Max M. Fisher Music Center alone stands
as a lasting symbol to his arts legacy."
Lois Beznos of Bloomfield Hills, DCMS
president, stressed the "consistency and
thoughtfulness" of Fisher's gift giving as
being very important to the arts communi-
ty. "He wasn't limited by his self-interests,"
she said. "He did what was best for the
city and was very creative in his support of
the arts. He was a real visionary in this
regard. Nothing is more gratifying than
hearing music and knowing you helped put
it there."
Jewish Detroit historian Irwin J. Cohen
of Oak Park hailed Fisher as a "giant of
the city of Detroit, who was synonymous
with everything important to the city." He
added: "He was a real superstar, whether it
was in regard to the arts, religion, busi-
ness, politics or whatever. Like his friend
Henry Ford II, he had a big impact."
Cohen, who has written eight books on
Detroit history, said he hopes Cummings

