Val Iberall (O'Connor)

Veteran University of Denver archivist and campus historian Steve Fisher suddenly died at age 73 on December 4, 2024. Born on March 6, 1951, he grew up in suburban Cleveland. He came to Denver in the mid-1970's fresh out of the library school of Case Western University to work in the archives of what was then Penrose Library. Soon he was in charge of the university archives. Fisher was both a loyalist of DU and a skeptic. This reflected his persona. A committed professional librarian who was convinced that archivists were the brain surgeons of the field, he also had a mocking sense of humor. As such, he was anything but the eunuch archivist, the person in charge of records who thinks the holdings are so valuable he does more to prevent people from accessing them than helping them see and use the records. Steve, as he was universally known, knew how crazy the world is, readily joking about it. In the process, he developed a great rapport with staffers, patrons, students, and associates. Steve was a bibliophile. He had a large collection of books about Cleveland, a place he fondly recalled as his original home. Additionally, he had many books about Denver. Curious and adventurous, he explored the city and took tours of it. In his role as the historian of the University of Denver, he conducted tours of the campus. In the process, he would point out some of the quirks on the grounds such as the Ladybird Johnson tree. Wanting to share his knowledge, besides professional publications about librarianship, Steve took advantage of Arcadia, a Charleston, South Carolina, publisher, to allow non-specialists to publish books of local interest. Included was writing his short versions of the history of South Denver and DU. His volume on the school, The University of Denver: A History (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2014), he observed, was the first non-official history of the college. He both respected the accomplishments of such pillars of the university as John Evans, Henry Buchtel, and Daniel Ritchie, and admitted they were human and prone to make mistakes. This was in drastic contrast to the stuffy portraits that had filled much of the previous literature. Typical of Steve was his favorite DU teeshirt. It featured the football program, “Undefeated since 1960.” The joke, he sometimes had to explain, is that the Pioneers had not lost a game on the gridiron since 1960, the last season DU fielded a football team. Living adjacent to the campus, about a block away from the Ritchie Center, he frequently attended school athletic competitions. With his wife Katie, a librarian at the Taylor Library of the Iliff School of Theology, Steve was also involved in Denver neighborhood politics. The couple often attended readings at Tattered Cover while she was a sparkplug in Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation, a coalition working for the enhancement of the city that treasured residents over businesses. She complimented and enhanced his passions and contributions. Alas, age did not treat Steve well. Around 2016–17, he started suffering from early dementia. This led to his forced retirement from DU, a blow that stung him. An even worse trauma was the sudden death of Katie in 2022 from heart disease. Since then, he openly admitted that he was bored. He would show up for events more than an hour before the scheduled start and then be confused and depressed that nothing was happening. At times, he left the events before or soon after they started. DU is filled with numerous plaques and memorials to the people who have been vital to the success of the school. For his many years of service to DU, including his ability to engage library users and recall its heritage, Steve is as deserving as any of such a marker. He was a librarian with vision whose skills enhanced a prime part of the University of Denver.

PHIL GOODSTEIN

Dec 18, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

As a fellow archivist in Colorado, I had a great deal of respect and admiration for Steve. He'll be missed as one of the elders in our community.

PATTY RETTIG

Dec 18, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

My Dad was a wonderful person and ment a lot to so many. He will be greatly missed but we take solace knowing he is with our mother Katie now.

BRIDGET FISHER

Dec 16, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

I worked with Steve for many years at the library at DU. I retired recently, and was shocked at this news. He was devastated when Katie passed away - now they are together.

JIL DAWICKI

Dec 16, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

Wow. I never expected to see in the Denver Post this morning, that Steve passed recently. How very sad. I went to Fairview High School with him,, and he was truly one of a kind. He was always so friendly. I don't think there is one person who disliked him, or vice versa. My sympathy to his lovely relatives and friends. No doubt he will be missed.

JUDY WHITE

Dec 15, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

I've known Steve ever since meeting him in 7th grade at Roxboro Junior High in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. We were in the same Boy Scout troop for a few years as well, and we graduated from high school in the same class. He was a major student of history and wrote a terrific book about the University of Denver. May his memory forever be a blessing.

PAUL SIEGEL

Dec 15, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

I worked with Steve for several years in the DU Library. He would always say hello to me when he would see me at DU sporting events. He will be missed.

MARK KINTGEN

Dec 15, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

L. D.

Dec 15, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

TOM & SARAH BLUMENTHAL

Dec 15, 2024

Val Iberall (O'Connor)

A friendly hello on our walks. He is missed.

THOMAS BLUMENTHAL , NEIGHBORA

Dec 14, 2024