SAN FRANCISCO -- Braydon Fisher lost his father, Normand, on Monday in San Francisco, a man he says “never had a bad day.”
Norm Fisher grew up in nearby Vanden, California, and was visiting some old friends from Vanden High School Monday prior to the Blue Jays’ series against the Giants. On the way back into the city, Norm suffered a stroke. He was 65 years old.
His son, back with the Blue Jays Wednesday, called these “the hardest days of my life.” His family flew into San Francisco immediately after getting the news to be together, and while Fisher will remain on the bereavement list until the Blue Jays travel to San Diego later this week, he’s finding support in his teammates and coaches.
“He was an amazing person,” Fisher said. “I’ve heard you say this about myself, and he always loved when you all said this, but there was never a bad day for Norm. His name was Norm. There was never a bad day for him. He was always happy, cheerful and willing to help anybody. He loved people. He did everything as perfectly as you could. He was very proud of what he had.”
Norm was an officer in the Air Force for eight years. He wasn’t just his son’s biggest fan, he was one of the biggest Blue Jays fans you’d ever find.
“I just want to thank the whole Blue Jays staff for how amazing they’ve been supporting me and my family,” Fisher said. “Getting flights, hotels, giving me as much time as I needed and all of the nice messages.”
In his son, Norm Fisher has so much to be proud of. Braydon Fisher is beloved in the clubhouse, always warm and respectful to both media and stadium staffers. Nothing seems to shake him, either, which is why manager John Schneider had no problem going to him in such big spots a year ago as a rookie. This year, he’s stepped forward as a workhorse for Schneider.
Norm Fisher was an athlete, too, even if it sounds like there were some tall tales involved.
“He liked to talk about being a good baseball player,” Fisher said, breaking into a big smile. “I always gave him [a hard time] for that. My mom always tells him that I got my athletic ability from her. He played baseball and he loved baseball. Growing up, if it had a score, it was on the TV. He loved watching it and he loves all the guys. I don’t think that for the last two years, you’d see him not wearing Blue Jays gear. Not ever. No matter the occasion.”
For now, Braydon Fisher is trying to find a sense of normalcy, which isn’t easy following a loss. Being back around his teammates feels like his “normal life,” he says, and he plans to travel home over the All-Star break next week to spend more time with his family, where they’ll continue to remember and celebrate Norm’s life.
“He always supported me in every single way,” Fisher said. “He did everything he could to make sure I achieved the dream I’d talked about since I was five.”