Marsh Fisher, co-founder of Century 21 Real Estate, died from natural causes on Friday, November 22 in Pomona, CA. He was 88. An influential and iconic entrepreneur, Fisher is credited with transforming the real estate industry and the practice of franchising existing real estate companies under a singular brand.

“The real estate industry has lost a legend,” said Rick Davidson, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “Much of the structure of the industry today is a result of Marsh’s work in the early days of franchising. He was a true visionary.”

What started in 1971 as a regional franchise in Orange County, CA, is today the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, comprised of 7,100 independently owned offices in 75 countries and territories with more than 102,000 sales professionals. CENTURY 21 is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp., a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services.

“Marsh was an innovator, and his dedication and commitment to CENTURY 21 helped the company grow across the United States and all around the world,” added Davidson. “I am incredibly proud to be in a position of carrying on his legacy and continuing to innovate within our company and the industry.”

After selling CENTURY 21 in 1979, Fisher went on to make a significant difference in the technology industry, as well. He was the originator and creator of IdeaFisher software, an application that opened the minds of corporations, consultants and educators to the process of Associative Thinking. He is also the author of “The Ideafisher: How to Land That Big Idea — And Other Secrets of Creativity in Business.”

Marsh Fisher was a B-25 bomber pilot in the United States Air Force from 1943-1945. The Fisher family is commemorating his life with a private family interment. An Air Force honor guard will perform.

Fisher is survived by his first wife of 19 years, Barbara Fisher; children: Jess Fisher, Cynthia Fisher-Davidson, and Heidi Fisher; brother: Jay Fisher; son-in-law: Doug Davidson, and grandchildren: Calyssa and Caden Davidson. The family also wishes to express its deepest gratitude to Paul and Mary Lou Curtis for their unconditional love and support. Fisher’s co-founder at CENTURY 21, Art Bartlett, predeceased Fisher on December 31, 2009.

In lieu of flowers the family is kindly asking that donations be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, 406 W. 34th St. Ste. 920, Kansas City, MO 64111, Telephone (816) 968-1128, www.VFWFoundation.org.

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