Longtime chair of the Park Forest’s Veterans Commission and one of Park Forest’s most notable veterans Edwin J. Fizer has passed.
Fizer, at the age of 17 in 1942, was among the first African-Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He went on to serve in World War II before returning to his native New Orleans, Louisiana in 1945. He eventually relocated to the Chicago area and took up residence in Park Forest in 1968 where he made his home for over 50 years. As he did in the Marine Corps, Fizer served with distinction in Park Forest with extensive stints on various volunteer commissions over a 15-year period, including nearly 10 years on the Park Forest Senior Commission and five years on the Park Forest Veterans Commission. In 2015, at the age of 90, Fizer became the oldest serving volunteer commission member in Park Forest, eventually ascending to the role of chair of the Park Forest Veterans Commission. Fizer remained chair of the Park Forest Veterans Commission up until the time of his passing.
In addition to his family, one of Fizer’s shining accomplishments came on Oct. 25, 2011 when he received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
In his professional career, Fizer worked as an optometrist, a police officer, and as a teacher.
Park Forest salutes and thanks Edwin J. Fizer for his service to the country and for his service to the community.