In Memoriam

Gene Fidler

August 2, 1938 – January 24, 2023

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We are sad to mark the passing of one of the iconic founders of the North Shore Democratic Club, Gene Fidler. He was a regular attendant at NSD Meet & Greets as his health allowed. But his activism on behalf of local Democrats dates back to the 2008 primary season, when Barack Obama was duking it out with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. I don’t know how many of you would remember, but there was a large Democratic meeting at the old Lago Vista High School gym that year. As a result of that, a group of friends including Gene and his wife Ardy, Dave and Elaine Henderson, and Dorothy Lauterbach began meeting on a regular basis. This was the nucleus of today's North Shore Democrats.

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In 2010 our own Elaine Henderson ran for US Congress. She had fervent supporters in Gene and Ardy, who actively supported and participated in her campaign by phone banking. After a good fight, Elaine lost the election to Republican Roger Williams. By 2013 the group of friends had grown into about 20 who met for potlucks at the Bluebonnet Room on Sunday afternoons. Bob Sybert proposed that the group organize a club, that could then become an official member of the Travis County Democratic Party. A committee, which included Fran and Rambi Briggs, as well as some of the original friends, wrote the bylaws with the help of a local lawyer. Those bylaws served the club unchanged for almost a decade.

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Gene Fidler was an active participant in the Club. He loved working on the Fourth of July float, which was often decorated in his driveway off Bar-K Ranch Road. He would borrow a trailer from some Republican friends, a source of great joy to him. His wife Ardy’s son had been killed in the Vietnam war, and the flag from his coffin flew on that float during the parade. He and Ardy also volunteered as poll workers during elections. I’ve been told that back in the day he was a precinct chair for old Precinct 371, now 282.

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Gene taught me the definition of a “yellow dog Democrat” – stating that he would “vote for a yellow dog rather than a Republican”. He was an old time Democrat that brooked no bull*** from the other side, unless he could make a joke out of it. 

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— Anne Ochoa

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To read his complete obituary, go to https://northshorebeacon.com/gene-fidler-p5154-89.htm