A bench of remembrance of a good life

   Richard "Goose" Gossage Youth Sports Complex holds fond memories for Michael Fisher's family.

    Many seasons of the 18-year-old's life were spent playing baseball and soccer at the city park.

    His life ended in November, when the Wasson High School senior was an innocent victim in a domestic violence shooting.

    He'd given the gunman's former girlfriend a ride. He didn't know the girl, he was helping out a friend.

    That's the kind of guy "Fish" was.

    Now a bench with his name offers a place for those who knew him to reflect. It's also a seat for strangers to hear kids laugh or enjoy the view of Pikes Peak.

    Friends and relatives will gather today on Mother's Day to dedicate the bench and remember Michael with a balloon lift and toast of Dr Pepper, his favorite drink.

    Personalized benches are available at many of the city's seven regional parks, eight community parks, 136 neighborhood parks, five sports complexes and 47 open space areas.

    Kim King of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services said benches average $1,200-$1,500, depending on the site and design of the bench.

    People often pick spots where individuals enjoyed the view, walked or participated in sports, King said. Fisher's long green metal bench is by the baseball plaza of the park on Mark Dabling Boulevard.

    King said Monument Valley Park and Palmer Park get a lot of bench requests. Newer parks, like Venezia Community Park going up at Briargate and Union, need benches.

    "It's an opportunity to honor someone," King said. "It's not a cemetery."

    The city's sign shop designs the 4-by-8-inch plaque.

    "We meet with people, work with them, do drafts. It's a cooperative effort," King said.

    It's also therapeutic.

    "We are trying to make good out of something bad," Michael's aunt Tamara Fisher said.

    After Michael's death, her Verizon co-worker Maura Houston offered to do something in the teen's memory.

    Tamara Fisher thought of the Arthur Kono bench by the tennis courts in Memorial Park. It was a pleasant place to sit between matches with Kono's widow, Helen.

    Houston led the fund drive for the Fisher bench. People contributed more than enough to cover the cost, so the excess will go to help another family buy a bench.

    The teen's bench has an etching of mountains and the words: "In Loving Memory of Michael Aaron (Fish) Fisher. Forever in our hearts."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0253 or andrea.brown@gazette.com 

DEDICATION

A bench dedication will be 2-3 p.m. today at Richard "Goose" Gossage Youth Sports Complex, 3225-3950 Mark Dabling Blvd., north of Fillmore Street and south of Garden of the Gods Road. The bench is at the baseball field plaza.

There will be a balloon release and toast with Dr Pepper, Michael Fisher's favorite drink.

TO BUY A BENCH

Price varies by the park and bench style required for that location. The fee covers cost of the bench and installation.

Phone: (719)385-6514

E-mail: ldorudiani@springsgov.com

On the Web: www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=134