Harry J. Fisher

Harry J. Fisher, 96, of New Hartford, passed away Monday, December 8, 2025. He was born in Vienna, Austria to Frieda and Dr. Irwin Fischer on September 3, 1929.

When the war broke out in 1938, he and his parents fled to Belgium and while there were deported to a concentration camp in France.  After 3 years in several camps, Harry at the age of 13 escaped to Switzerland and found refuge with a Swiss family.

Several years later he enrolled in the Geneva Dental School and Harry reunited with his parents who had been hiding in the basement of a church.  Together, they finally emigrated to the United States.  Two years later, he joined the US Army and for the next several years, he was in Heidelberg, Germany where he supervised the Army Dental Laboratory.

It wasn’t until 1960, that Harry met the woman of his dreams, Roselyn Slakter in the Catskills. In 1961, they married, and he moved to Utica to start his career as a Dental Technician.

Harry was a multi-talented man and had many interests. He loved music and played the accordion, piano and organ.   He was a collector of classical music and a magician.  He knew five different languages and could be found telling a good, dirty joke to those that would listen!!   Harry enjoyed a good game of chess and was a gifted sculptor.

Harry is survived by his beautiful and devoted wife, Roselyn and daughters, Pamala Kurtzer (David) and Andrea Dinerstein (Richard).  He cherished his grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) and Adam Kurtzer (Caitlyn), Noah Dinerstein and Zachary Dinerstein (Lisa).   He also leaves a brother-in-law, Ira Slakter (Ann) and several wonderful nieces and nephews. He was thrilled to meet and play with his great-grandchildren, Ezra, Lev, Rory and Penelope.

Services will be at Mark C. Bentz Funeral Service, Inc., Friday, December 12, at 1 p.m. at 13 Oxford Road, New Hartford.  A calling hour will be from 12 to 1 prior to the service.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Cedarbrook for all their kindness.

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