Thacher Heath Fisk Jr.

February 28, 1943 – December 4, 2009

Thacher Heath Fisk Jr., 66, of Bellingham, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, after a battle with cancer, at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. He was the husband of Nancy (Banister) Fisk, with whom he shared 36 years of marriage.

Born in Framingham, the son of Dorothy V. (Gammons) Fisk of Bellingham, and the late Thacher Heath Fisk Sr., Heath was raised and educated in Natick, where he graduated from Natick High School, Class of 1961. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in English at Northeastern University in Boston, where he was an active member of the Phi Sigma Kappa/Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity. He later earned his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston.

In 1966, Heath enlisted and served in the United States Army until his honorable discharge in 1969, with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was employed as a contracts manager for General Dynamics C-4 Government Systems (formerly GTE) in Taunton. During his more than 25-year career with the company, he worked on several vital US defense and international programs. His business travels took him globally to northern Scandinavia and the Far East.

Alongside his wife, Nancy, Heath was owner and operator of Wishing Well Kennel in Bellingham, an all breed boarding and grooming kennel, and home of many AKC Champion Akitas, registered under the Akiko kennel prefix. An active member of the Akita Club of America, Heath recently received the prestigious American Kennel Club Good Sportsman Award for his outstanding contribution to the Akita breed and the sport of purebred dogs.

He was a member of Fisk Memorial United Methodist Church in Natick, the Hockomock Kennel Club, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the National Contracts Management Association. Heath was an avid golfer, skier, bowler and all-around lover of social activities. He will be lovingly remembered for his outgoing, kind and generous spirit. In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by his sister, Suerae Ballard of Springfield, Vt.; his brother, Lloyd A. Fisk of Dunnallon, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a memorial service Thursday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m, at Fisk Memorial United Methodist Church, 106 Walnut St., Natick. Visiting hours are Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 8 p.m, at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common), Natick.

In lieu of flowers, Heath's family requests that donations in his memory be made to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, P.O. Box 900061, Raleigh, NC 27675-9061, the Akita Rescue of Western New York, P.O Box 428, East Amherst, NY 14051, or The National Animal Interest Alliance, P.O. Box 66579, Portland, OR 97290-6579. For online guest book to leave messages of condolence for the Fisk family, please visit www.everettfuneral.com.