Hundreds Mourn Exeter High Teacher

Hundreds of friends, family, and students who knew Jonathan Fischer mourned him during a memorial service this afternoon.

Fischer, who taught Spanish at , died Saturday of stomach cancer. He was 53 years old.

"It was my honor to count Jonathan as my friend," said Principal Vic Sokul. "I found him to be a man of exceptional warmth and wisdom.

More than 200 people came to a memorial service at the high school this afternoon.

"Words will never be able to describe how much we will miss him," said Kelsey Price, a student in one of Fischer's Spanish classes.

After his cancer diagnosis, students railled behind him, holding several to help pay for his care.

Fischer, of Barrington, leaves behind his wife, Ellen. He met her in Philadelphia, Penn. while changing a light bulb above her desk when he a building maintenance worker.

Fischer today was remembered as avid outdoorsman. He built his own boat he called the "X-15." He earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 50.

Contributions in his memory can be made to:

• St. Charles Children's Home, 19 Grant St, Rochester, NH 03867
• Cocheco Valley Humane Society, 262 County Farm Rd, Dover, NH 03820