Edward Fisher (1904-1970) was an active member of his East Elmhurst community. He is remembered for his dedicated leadership in numerous local initiatives, including working to improve public education, fighting for alternative parking in his neighborhood, and playing a key role in halting the proposed Highway 678 project, which would have uprooted residents and profoundly changed the character of the community. He is perhaps most notably remembered for his instrumental role in the creation of the community pool in East Elmhurst named in his honor.

Fisher was born in Byronville, Georgia, and lived for a time on West 121st Street in Harlem with his wife, Carmilla. He moved to East Elmhurst in 1945, where he lived for a period at 32-50 95th Street with Carmilla and his mother, Addie, and his mother-in-law, Marie Cantey. In addition to working as a truck driver for Solomon Brothers, he also drove for a trucking company in the 1940s and for a chain of grocery stores in the 1950s.

Fisher held numerous leadership roles, reflecting his commitment to civic and spiritual life. He served his community as president of the 16 Square Block Civic Association of East Elmhurst and was a member of Community Board 3. In 1969, he served as the East Elmhurst/Corona chairman for the Independent Citizens Committee for the Reelection of Mayor Lindsay and was a member of the Mayor’s Urban Action Task Force and the Coordinating Council of East Elmhurst. He was also engaged with the Jamaica chapter of the Keystone Lodge of Masons. For the East Elmhurst Church, he offered service as president of the Ushers Board, vice-chair of the board of trustees, and as a deacon.

Fisher also championed the naming of a park in East Elmhurst for William E. Gray, a soldier who was severely wounded in combat in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam, in February 1967 and who died from his injuries soon after. A neighbor, friend, and mentor to Gray, Fisher spearheaded the effort to name the park after Private Gray. Mayor John V. Lindsay and Parks Commissioner August Heckscher attended the dedication ceremony for the Private William Gray Playground in the summer of 1968.

In January 1970, the City acquired the property for the pool in response to lobbying efforts that were led by Fisher. Located on 32nd Avenue between 99th and 100th Streets, Fisher Pool is in the heart of the East Elmhurst community where Fisher lived and served.