On the northwest corner of High Street and Asbury Avenue, a one-story stucco home sits across the street from the University of Denver. A yard sign was often posted in the front yard proclaiming ‘Game Day’, reminding students and the community that a DU athletic team was playing at home that day or night.
That home belonged to Katie and Steve Fisher. The Ohio pair moved to Denver in 1977, settling beside the DU campus. Katie worked at Taylor Library at the Iliff School of Theology for 40 years until she retired in 2017. Katie and Steve were nearly inseparable. They ran the University Neighborhood Association while attending numerous University events together. Katie passed in September 2022.
Along with the entire DU community, we were saddened to learn last night, during the DU-CC telecast, of the recent passing of Steve Fisher, a valued member of the neighborhood and the University of Denver.
Steve, a Cleveland Heights native, worked as a Professor at DU’s Special Collections at Penrose Library. He also authored books about the history of the University and University Park neighborhoods that are still sold today. Steve had a wealth of knowledge about the University of Denver and he delighted in answering questions regarding DU’s history and traditions. There was and never will be a better DU historian.
At DU sporting events, fans could almost always spot Steve. He was a positive, engaged fan and was always kind to others. He was easily spotted standing and clapping for student-athletes, exchanging high-fives, and regularly commenting on our blog. One frequently repeated phrase, “I was there!”
He won’t be with us going forward and we will all miss him dearly. First Katie and now, Steve; important contributors to the University community. Athletic events will miss an important character and contributor going forward and the school has lost valuable institutional knowledge with Steve’s passing. The University Neighborhood has lost some of its identity and spirit as well.
Steve is survived by son Matthew and daughter Bridget; grandchildren Riley, Madelyn, and Llewyn; brothers Thomas and David; and sisters Ann and Amy.
We’ll miss you, Steve. Rest easy.
Readers can buy Steve’s books at local book stores and on Amazon.
Aw man, that’s a bummer. I nice guy.
Very sorry to read this. Such a booster and community-minded person. RIP!
Thank you for writing this. Steve had been a part of my DU life since the 70s. I know how much he missed Katie and am happy that he is with her again.
Sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. In 1985 I was part of a group that published “A Tribute to Champions”. It was a 48 page booklet that highlighted DU’s athletic history up until 1985. We scanned old yearbooks and other historical information at University Archives and Steve was a big help. Very friendly and always making the extra effort. I also have a copy of his 2014 book “The University of Denver A History”. I had no idea he was a big athletics booster, so thanks for writing this and remembering Steve.
Great guy and a friend to this blog. RIP!
Great person. Always enjoyed seeing him on campus when he was working still, and nice to continue to see him at hockey games, right up to this season
Great fa, kind soul! RIP
Great guy and such a loyal, passionate DU fan, supporter and friend. He will be missed.
Steve and Katie were wonderful people and neighbors. They will be missed by the entire community.
What a good man. Dunker is very saddened. We communicated often on Facebook with my usually sending him photos of famous library related pictures or info. I’ll never forget his 2 memorable phrases: I was there and where are fans watching today’s game. Steve will never be forgotten. Condolences to his entire family.
I remember Steve well. My wife and I were actually next door neighbors with him and Katie back in 2007 and 2008. We rented the house (no longer there) just to the north on High St. Just a terrific guy, as nice as they come, humble, and down to earth. And of course he was as big a DU fan and supporter as anybody. And Katie was the same. We always enjoyed chatting and visiting with them as neighbors.
RIP Steve. You will be missed.
I’m so sorry to hear this. We’ve had Men’s Basketball season tickets next to Steve for a bunch of years and he’s always been so supportive of the program and above all else, such a kind person. He always struck me as someone who truly loved DU.
Condolences to his family. He will be missed.
Sad day for our university.
If you are a hard-core DU fan in Denver, you either knew or recognized Steve Fisher – the most loyal and consistent DU fan most of us ever knew. For about the last half century, no matter the weather, the record, or sports program – if the game was in Denver, he was there, often with his wife, Katie.
For a die-hard sports fan, there is little more important than being there. Woody Allen once said that 80% of life is showing up, and for that alone, he’s earned his place atop the pantheon of loyal DU fans. I don’t think there was any DU fan who showed up more often than Steve did, for more sports, for more years, than anyone in modern history. He was even there for those truly godawful women’s basketball teams of the Kerry Cremeans era.
But beyond his peerless athletic attendance, there was a quiet, aging hippie dignity to the man that always seemed to land on goodness. If you got to know him, he was always kind and he listened more than he spoke, which is a rare quality these days.
His enclyopedic knowledge of DU (as the University’s historian) was epic, and while he never flaunted it, if you could stump him (trust me on this, it was rare) on a DU-related trivia question, you felt a surge of pride, because you could hang with the best!
And, if you served with him on DU committees, you would be impressed to see how he openly and deeply understood both sides of any issue, and he never seemed to let his personal feelings override his professional judgement, another rare quality.
DU has lost a great one.
Godspeed, Steve. RIP.
Steve was such a kind person, may he rest in peace. When my father passed away, Steve reached out with a wonderful very large envelop of articles and accolades about my father’s time as a professor at DU. It was such a find gift at a very difficult time. I hope his family is able to get the same gift from all these beautiful comments.
Truly a special part of our community.