Roger Fisher passed away on Saturday morning. I do not yet have the words I expect I will eventually want to say about Roger. He was at different points my teacher, my mentor, my boss, and my colleague. Like many, I quite literally would not be where (or who) I am but for Roger. I hope that you will join me in taking a minute to reflect on his extraordinary life.
MM
Sad news indeed. I wish I had the opportunity to meet him personally. Even without receiving that honor, every semester I learn from him and pass along his teachings in my classes when I share not only the insights from “Getting to Yes” but also his video “The Hackerstar Negotiation”. His impeccable work, skill and persona will live on.
Here’s the best line in the obit –
His family recalled that when Professor Fisher celebrated his 80th birthday, his colleague John Kenneth Galbraith toasted him by saying, “Whenever I thought, ‘Someone should do something about this,’ it eased my conscience to learn that Roger was already working on it.”
NTY obit here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/world/americas/roger-d-fisher-expert-in-getting-to-yes-dies-at-90.html
Like Michael, I am only now starting to reflect on the impact that Roger has had on my life. As a mentor, friend, teacher, co-author, and colleague, he was unparalleled. As for his broader impact on the field of negotiation, he was revolutionary. We will miss him.