Town Crier Articles

 

Dumbfounded and shattered. The tragic death of the NTRA’s former Treasurer and Director, Rick Fisher, has left a big hole in our community.  For the past 10 years, Rick has been a fixture, yes, in many ways a pillar of homeowner involvement and commitment.

 

Rick and Ginny Fisher moved to New Town from Atlanta in August 2011. Rick formed the first Finance Committee and chaired it for 2 years before serving on the Residential Advisory Board (RAB) (2013-2020). He was elected RAB Treasurer and continued to focus on financial matters.  Ever the glutton for punishment, Rick ran for the first homeowner Board of Directors and was elected in June 2020.  The Board then elected him as Association Treasurer.

 

When he stepped down from the Board in September 2021, the workload and pace of changes had overwhelmed him. He wrote:

“I have enjoyed providing continuous service to the Community for a period of ten (10) years.  I recall an early meeting in 2011 with Bob Keith and John Wright.  At that time, the existing RAB felt it was time to have a Finance Committee and I was asked to be the first Chair.  We worked closely with Town Management to construct a new budget process. We also began the process of investing replacement reserve funds into CD’s based on a laddering approach. There were numerous other finance related accomplishments throughout the years.  I have worked closely with the new Board members to ensure that the Association remains strong and is a “first class” place to live.  The challenges are great, but with strong Community involvement and support we will meet them.”

 

Rick was a man of few words, always articulate and concise, usually.  Except for one incident Chuck remembers.  When the Finance Committee was discussing how to invest replacement reserves, the room listened as a committee member suggested the monies be invested in U.S. government bonds.  Within seconds, Rick stood up and tersely said that "No way” would he give money to “an out of financial control Federal Government."  A surprised group continued with the debate.  Later, a Wells Fargo investment advisor explained to the Finance Committee that if the Federal Government fails, then we are all in deep trouble.  There would be no social security or Medicare.  Still Rick was not impressed and stuck to "no U.S. government investments."

 

Rick was instrumental in helping to make each proposed budget clear and understandable to all NTRA owners at the annual budget meetings.  He had a compassionate approach to mitigate the quarterly dues adjustment each year.

 

But Rick was not just all about business…In 2012 Rick initiated the idea of forming a retired men’s luncheon group in New Town whose purpose was “strictly recreational/social; to know others in our community better and to have fun.” Rick enjoyed golf and tennis and as any past Board member can tell you Tuesday and Thursdays afternoons (for the Senior non-primetime discount) were off limits for meetings because of his standing golf dates which were sacred to him.

 

Two weeks before his death, Rick wrote of his service on the Board - “Our accomplishments were many.” Indeed, when you look at the institutional changes that Rick has championed, you will see just part of the rich legacy that he leaves behind.

We are all in Rick’s debt. An honest man, a gentleman, and a gentle man. Missed by all the community and so many friends.