Lester E. Fisher (February 24, 1921December 22, 2021) was an American zoologist who studied apes and other animals. He began his career in 1947 when hired part-time as Lincoln Park Zoo's first veterinarian. He became affectionately known as Chicago's Dr. Doolittle and Mr. Chimps.

Early life

Fisher received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from

Iowa State University Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the ...

in 1943. Then, Fisher served in World War II in Europe as a veterinarian for Gen. George S. Patton's bull terrier, Willie.

Career

From 1947 to 1962, he also had a private veterinary practice in Berwyn. In 1962,

Marlin Perkins Richard Marlin Perkins (March 28, 1905 – June 14, 1986) was an American zoology, zoologist. He was best known as a host of the television program ''Wild Kingdom, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom'' from 1963 to 1985. Life and career Perkin ...

left as director of Lincoln Park Zoo for St. Louis. Fisher succeeded him as the zoo's director. He continued in that role until his retirement in 1992. Fisher was then Director Emeritus for the zoo until his death.

Television and movie appearances

Fisher appeared in the documentaries ''Arctic Window'' (1985), ''Otto: Zoo Gorilla'', and ''Zookeepers''. He frequently appeared on Chicago area television shows to promote the Lincoln Park Zoo, animals cared for by the zoo, and conservation topics. Shows on which he regularly appeared include ''

Zoo Parade ''Zoo Parade'' is an American television program broadcast from 1950 to 1957 that featured animals from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Presented by Marlin Perkins, the show was broadcast on Sunday afternoons on NBC. History The show was first ...

'', '' The Ray Rayner Show'', in a segment called "Ark in the Park", and '' Bozo`s Circus''. One of his later television appearances was in an episode of ''Pritzker Military Presents'' entitled ''Soldier's Best Friends: Animals in the Military'' which aired on

WYCC WYCC (channel 20) was a public television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was last owned by not-for-profit broadcasting entity Window to the World Communications, Inc., alongside PBS member station WTTW (channel 11) and classica ...

Legacy and awards

Fisher received the R. Marlin Perkins Award in 1996, which is the highest award given by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Lincoln Park Zoo has named the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes after Fisher. Fisher's time at Lincoln Park Zoo is the subject of his memoir, written with

Betty White Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. A pioneer of Golden Age of Television, early television, with a television career spanning almost seven decades, White was noted for her vast work i ...

, entitled ''Dr. Fisher's Life on the Ark: Green Alligators, Bushman, and Other Hare-raising Tales from America's Most Popular Zoo and Around the World'', which was published in 2004.

Personal life and death

Fisher lived in Hayward, Wisconsin. He turned 100 on February 24, 2021, and died on December 22.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Lester E. 1921 births 2021 deaths 20th-century American zoologists American centenarians Iowa State University alumni Men centenarians Scientists from Chicago United States Army personnel of World War II