Leonard Fischer (GHS Member 07044) passed away suddenly on March 8. He was 44 years old and the son of former GHS president, John Fischer. Leonard was very interested in golf history and read many golf biographies, histories and golf magazines. He was a regular at the old Dayton meeting, first at the Dayton Airport and then at the Holiday Inn. He attended the first few Columbus shows but contracted Crohn’s Disease which limited his travel.
Leonard was a collector of early 19th century clubs and balls, his treasure being a full set of the Spalding set (1-9) of Jones irons with hickory shafts produced in 1933. Each bore the same registration number (H35515). His collection was small but top notch with each club having a special history or story behind it.
But more than his collection, he enjoyed talking golf with GHS members, learning about their collections, how items were acquired and the stories behind them. Leonard developed a relationship with Number one (Bob Kuntz) when Leonard was the newest and maybe youngest member, and the two were frequently on the phone.
Later Leonard became a self- taught artist who specialized in pencil portraits of well known golf personalities. Attached are three portraits Leonard drew: Jack McLean, runner up in the 1936 U.S. Amateur, two-time British Walker Cup player, three time winner of the Irish Amateur and, later in life, head professional at Gleneagles in Scotland; James Braid, one of the Great Triumvirate; and Francis Ouimet which Leonard was working on when he passed away.
Those who knew Leonard will remember his smile and his interest in what they had to say about golf.
