Bernard Fishman, 80, a champion fencer, died of a stroke Sunday, June 2, in his home in Buffalo Grove. From 1938 to 1941, Mr. Fishman competed in city and state fencing competitions for Austin High School. Later, he competed in other state and national events and was the state foils champion in 1947. He chose not to attend college, or the Olympics, so he could enlist in the Coast Guard during World War II. He sometimes regretted passing up the Olympics, for which he had qualified in the early-1940s, his wife Mickey said, but he continued fencing. Mr. Fishman won gold and silver medals at the 1992 Seniors National Fencing Competition. “Even as an old man, he was good,” his wife said. “He would always say that young fencers don’t have the style. When he fenced, though, it looked like he was doing ballet.” No one else in the family fenced, but they learned of his passion through his stories, said his son, Clive. In addition to his wife and son, survivors include a daughter, Shelly Richman; two stepdaughters, Deborah Booth and Marci Shames-Yeakel; a stepson, Steven Shames; two brothers, Russell and Seymour; and five grandchildren. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Chicago Jewish Funerals Chapel, 195 N. Buffalo Grove Rd., Buffalo Grove.
