INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Marianne Fisher had gotten hints that Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce directors chose her as Ms. Seminole. It didn’t quite sink in.

Even when last year’s Mr. Seminole, George Bessler, announced the president and CEO of Safe Harbor Elder Care Services as the winner March 7 at the Holiday Inn Harbourside, it took husband Dr. David Moore to nudge her along.

“My husband said, ‘He’s talking about you, Marianne,’” Fisher recalled. “’Stand up.’”

Fisher was the top honoree at the 61st annual Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner, themed “Legacy Under the Stars.” The chamber also recognized six other individuals and businesses for their contributions to the community.

Master of Ceremonies Gerry Cachia, Mr. Seminole 2018, and Dr. Stephen Nickse, Mr. Seminole 2015, led a tribute to chamber members Peter Hofstra, Paul King, Richard Caton and Paul Cavonis, who died in the past year.

Past Mr. and Ms. Seminole honorees in attendance included Dr. Claude McMullen (1984), Dennis DeLoach (1993), Ken Burke (2000), Eva Jones (2001), Tim Schuler (2002), Wilda Whittle (2004), Robert Castles (2006), Harold Vardy (2011), Dennis Jones (2012), Gene Stern (2013), Fred Zinda (2014), Sandy Hartmann (2016), Thom Barnhorn (2023) and Vivian Lurie (2024).

A career built on advocacy

As well-wishers lined up to congratulate her, Fisher said the honor left her speechless.

“I didn’t know what to say,” she said.

Her humility tracks with a career spent in quiet, dogged advocacy for the elderly.

Less than two weeks after she retired as CEO of Clarkson & Collins, D.O., P.A., after more than 20 years, she found herself sitting across from attorneys, certified public accountants and financial planners.

“‘So, we heard you retired,’” she recalled them saying. “‘We don’t think that’s going to work for you. … You bring a special talent to elder care that’s seldom seen. We might need to go into business together.’”

In another case, Fisher helped a brother — who had been his sister’s sole caretaker — reunite with her after the sister was placed in a facility and effectively cut off from contact. After the brother was able to say his goodbyes, he asked Fisher to handle his affairs.

“I told him I would be honored,” she said.

As a patient advocate, Fisher has helped seniors preserve their legacies and their dignity. She helps prevent elder scams and exploitation, which remain rampant.

“My tagline is protecting the rights and welfare of our seniors,” Fisher said. “Seniors are living longer. Now, it’s so easy for a senior who suffers from dementia to be without any rights, and that’s very, very hard to swallow.”

Bessler said Fisher had “a servant’s heart.” Cachia said she was doing “God’s work” and noted she had broad support among chamber members for the honor.

Her attention to detail bears that out. During one-on-one meetings with potential clients, she said she changes the volume of her voice to test whether they can hear her. During COVID, she brought seniors mechanical animals that barked and meowed so they would have company.

Her clients now span as far as Canada, Spain and Finland.

“I want people to know if they feel somebody is taking advantage of them that they should say something to someone they trust,” she said. “Am I an advocate? Absolutely. It really is a passion.

“I love it.”