“I was there on a Monday, and I’ve volunteered on Monday mornings ever since.”

–Barb Fisher

That first Monday was November 12, 1979. Just weeks before, on September 25, Barb Fisher had attended the grand opening celebration of the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, complete with Roy Kroc and Ronald McDonald himself.

That was 45 years ago, and Barb has been here the entire time, volunteering at the front desk of the first House, moving to the new House in 1995, serving on the Board and event committees, and picking up an additional weekly shift at the Family Room at the Cleveland Clinic when that opened in 1998.

An experience years earlier motivated Barb to volunteer. In 1964, her 18-month-old daughter had a tiny sebaceous cyst behind her eyelid. To remove it required a two-day stay at the hospital, where Barb saw families with nowhere to go, sleeping on chairs or the hallway floor just to be near their children. Her own time there was stressful and uncomfortable, but Barb felt lucky to leave with a healthy child after a short stay. She never forgot the other families, some of whom were there for weeks with critically ill children and no local support.

Barb Fisher doing laundry

Fifteen years later, Barb came across an article about a Bed Push to raise funds for a new Ronald McDonald House where families with sick kids could stay near the hospital. She thought of the parents sleeping on floors and “felt it was so great that those families would have a place to stay!” Barb immediately became involved, and started volunteering almost as soon as the first families were able to check into the Ronald McDonald House.

“When I start something, I stick with it—like my marriage.”

Barb and Bill Fisher

Barb and her husband were high school sweethearts and have been married for 67 years. When talking about the first Cleveland House, which was created by the purchase and renovation of the by-then somewhat seedy College Motel, Barb shared a personal tidbit. In about 1955, her future husband was attending Case Western Reserve University and Barb travelled to accompany him to a formal dance. The place Barb stayed while in town was just across the street from the school—the College Motel!

Back when the Cleveland House opened, there were live-in managers at the House and the main front desk tasks were to check in guests and water the many plants. Eventually the role evolved to include laundry, room checks and processing donations. Barb stayed on, joining the Board in the mid-1980s and participating in the planning of the new, larger House in the early 1990s. She recalls looking at various properties in the area before the Board settled on the current location at 105^th and Euclid.

Barb Fisher and Willa Jones

Barb was also an effective fundraiser for the organization, serving as the first Chairperson of the Familia planning committee in 1987 and remaining on the committee for the next 28 years. Familia, a fashion show-based gala, grew to become the second-largest annual fundraiser for the House and ran through 2014. Since then, Barb has supported events as an attendee, enjoying Wine Women & Shoes for several years until it was replaced by our current fashion event, Haute for the House.

“You meet lots of different people when volunteering.”

Alice Sherman, Lee Ensign and Barb Fisher

Barb, like so many of our volunteers, has met people from all walks of life and made many friends through the years. The first person who came and volunteered with her at the front desk was Janet Voinivich. They were the Monday morning pair for years, until Janet’s husband became Governor of Ohio and she could no longer commit the time.

After that, Barb teamed up at the front desk with new volunteer Lee Ensign, who had just moved back from New York City. The two, along with Alice Sherman, became the Monday morning dream team, working together to complete all kind of tasks. Though they hadn’t known each other prior to volunteering, they became fast friends. When Barb was asked to volunteer at the new Family Room at the Cleveland Clinic, her condition was “Only if Lee can come with me!” and theirs became the only two-person shift at the Room. Barb and Lee worked their House and Family Room shifts together for more than 20 years, until Covid restricted activity.

Lee Ensign, Barb Fisher, and Mary Lynn Byrne

Barb also finds helping families from all over the world very rewarding. One memory that stands out is when a family came from UAE and she took the father to the grocery store. They spent a long time wandering the store and looking at things in every aisle. Finally, the man purchased a bag of potatoes and they returned to the House. That family ended up coming for several stays, and the mother designed a special note card, which the House used for several years.

“It’s a good feeling to help other people.”

Barb Fisher is a quiet and calm presence in the House and Family Room. Even so, you can’t help but notice her impact on those she serves. She’s been featured through the years in local media and RMHC newsletters. In 2009, she was awarded the Willa Jones Award, named in honor of the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland’s first volunteer, who started just before Barb. The two served alongside each other for 28 years, until Willa “retired” at the age of 93. In celebration of the Cleveland House’s 40th Anniversary in 2019 and Barb’s then 40 years of volunteering, she became the first recipient of the new Barb Fisher 40-Year Service Award.

A recent incident exemplifies Barb’s quiet strength and resilience. A young patient battling some mental health issues had broken away, rushed into the Family Room and locked herself in with Barb. Afterward, Barb told a very concerned Family Room Manager Erin Goldsmith “It wasn’t very long, security came soon with all the hospital staff. I didn’t even get up…” Erin recounted “I can only imagine Barb sipping her coffee and remaining cool as a cucumber! She doesn’t let anything frazzle her, ever!”

Lee Ensign, Barb Fisher, and Becka Cleveland at volunteer ice cream social on July 31, 2024

Joanmarie Button, 25-year Cleveland House Director, says of her service, “Over the past 45 years, Barb has witnessed a LOT of growth and change, and through it all, she continues to show up to serve families with her calm, cheerful, positive demeanor.  She is always focused on our mission of serving families, and doesn’t get frazzled by changes. She has been and continues to be an exemplary volunteer and wonderful mission ambassador.

“I just love the House and everything about it!”

Barb Fisher on her Monday morning shift on May 6, 2024

Barb has experienced what began as a House in Cleveland change and grow into a regional organization with the Akron House, Family Room Programs, STAR Programs and RedTreehouse.org. She speaks with pride about how services have evolved to meet the needs of families, such as the addition of meals at the House and other locations. She says what families appreciate most is being able to have “something taken for granted at home” like a shower in the Family Room when they’ve been at the hospital for days.

What we appreciate most is Barb, and her 45 years of volunteer service. In fact, we just love Barb Fisher and everything about her!