Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., October 26, 2008 Tishrei 27, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:49 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Peres Center Travel Week's End Anglo File

Shocked Anglos note son's suicide one year after father's By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: murder, Hod Hasharon, suicide  The English-speaking community in the Sharon region responded with total shock to the tragedy. Valerie and Ray, Michael Fisher's parents, immigrated to Israel in 1982 from Leeds, England. The first thought that went through the minds of many members of the local Anglo community was that Ray, too, had committed suicide, a little over a year ago. Ray was a pillar of the community, who served in several positions in the Hitachdut Olei Britannia (The Association of British Immigrants), including two terms as chairman. He was a former president of the Israel Rugby Association and president of the Ra'anana Masorti Conservative synagogue. In Leeds he had been a teacher, but in Israel he became a travel agent. He volunteered in the Civil Guard and in the Traffic Police for years. Ray ended his life in August 2007 after battling cancer for a number of years. He killed himself just a few weeks before the wedding of his eldest daughter, Karyn. Many of his friends believed he knew that he was dying and did not want to be a burden on his family. His death was a shock to the Anglo community, and many of its members said yesterday that they were reliving that same shock. Advertisement Michael, who was 3 when his family made aliyah, integrated into Israeli society well, even marrying a "sabra," unlike many Anglos in Israel who remain in an English-speaking environment. He did his compulsory army service in the Border Police, and joined the Israel Police following his release. Michael also earned both a bachelor's degree and a degree in law. "His father was one of the best men I ever met and he raised his children the same way, educating them to give back to the community. We talk about people being salt of the earth, and I simply cannot grasp it, they are people who are too special," said Alan Marks, another former Leeds man. Ian Banks, another friend who is also a former chairman of HOB, related yesterday that the last time he saw Michael was at a memorial service for the one-year anniversary of Ray Fisher's death, at the Ra'anana cemetery. "We never saw any signs of the affect on him of Ray's death that could have signaled anything like this," Banks said, despite the fact that Fisher's family took his death very hard. "At Valerie's request it was not a sad memorial, and we tried to recall the good things in his life," Banks said. Related articles: Family of four found shot dead in their central Israel home Bookmark to del.icio.us   Ugly becomes uglier Report: Pennsylvania Republicans email likens voting for Obama to rise of Hitler. Mr. Wobbly Man Dennis Ross explains why he's working for Obama and how he'd talk to Iran.   1.   This is more than imitation 07:33  |  The Equalizer 24/10/08   2.   The extent of the evil desending on the entire world 07:37  |  The Equalizer 24/10/08   3.   Ray Fisher 14:24  |  Lionel Silman 24/10/08   4.   father and son 15:26  |  Jonathan 24/10/08   5.   The reason 21:29  |  P.kutcher 24/10/08

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