MR. RAYMOND FISKE, RIP

We lost a very great friend of our organization and in particular to our Board of Directors, Mr. Raymond Fiske.  Raymond passed away yesterday after fighting a fierce battle with cancer.  His contributions to the Friends of Hank Snow Society included his time as Board Treasurer,  Chair of Maintenance Committee, and his help as a volunteer in whatever capacity he could undertake.  Along with his dear wife Debbie, he looked after many parts of the Tribute Festivals including with the Volunteers.  With failing health, Raymond continued to help or as he said “supervised” when maintenance was being done or our yellow striped tent was being erected each summer.  Raymond often “dropped in” to the Museum and each time he had some tidbit of information to help make the organization work better.   Raymond’s grandchildren Autumn and Jackson Carver both were summer students at the Museum and he helped them out wherever he could.  He took keeping the grounds of the Museum shipshape and often could be seen riding on the ride-on all around the Gazebo Park area if he felt it wasn’t up to par. When his other grandson was in town, he recruited him to help out whipper snipping or mowing.  His down to earth philosophy helped shape the Board as they came through some very lean years during and following COVID.   Raymond was the first one there for events and the last to leave.  We are heartbroken to lose our friend and a lover of country music.   He leaves a legacy with his grandchildren who have helped out the Museum and Autumn who performs in Hank Snow shows and Raymond was proud when she graduated from Acadia with a Music Degree.  He was proud of all his grandchildren and talked baseball accolades about the boys.  He loved sports and was an avid NHL hockey lover.  He even came around to thinking Brad Marchand was not so bad and had become a great hockey player.  His years serving those less fortunate including during his time at Hillsview Acres led to many accolades.    Below is the excerpt written about him when he won Volunteer of the Year through the Ripple Effect of the Municipality.    Raymond was special and made others feel special.  If anyone needed anything,  Raymond tried to make it happen for them often looking after them himself.   The Community lost a great volunteer but the Friends of Hank Snow Society lost a very special friend.  RIP dear Raymond !!

Ripple Effect Write Up:

Originally from Lawrencetown, Raymond Fiske moved to Queens in 1978 to manage Hillsview Acres. Along with his wife Debbie, they did so for 30 years until retirement. After retirement from the Region, Raymond continued to serve the public for 8 years as Councillor of District 6.

As a volunteer, Raymond has been involved in the Prince of Wales Zetland Lodge #9 for 18 years and is currently their Treasurer. He has also held the position of Worshipful Master and has been appointed as Grand Lodge Officer for a one-year term, by the Grand Lodge Master of Nova Scotia. He is particularly proud of the financial contributions of local lodges to Queens General Hospital and to Queens County Transit, to which $88,000 was donated to purchase a new accessible van.

Raymond has served on many committees and boards, including as a board member for the Queens County Fair and Queens County Transit, Chair of the North Queens Nursing Home Board, and was one of two residential care facility representatives appointed to the provincial Cost Care Planning Committee.

As a current board member of the Hank Snow Society, Raymond participates in the organization and staging of all events and in particular helps organize their major fundraiser, the Hank Snow Tribute. He also serves as Treasurer for the board.

Personally, Raymond can always be counted on to assist friends and family in need, including transporting them to medical appointments and treatments.

His volunteer philosophy is quite simple – to help whenever he can. Not surprisingly, he was hesitant to allow his name to be submitted for the Ripple Effect Award, saying that he does not volunteer for recognition but rather for the satisfaction of helping others. In fact, Raymond says his volunteer work has helped save his life!