The Fisher Family: Making Music and Memories

Meet the Fisher Family: Joe, Paige, Isabella, Pierce and their pup Rylie. The Fishers are happy to have found their forever home in Newtown Square and enjoy taking moments to make music and memories.

Joe grew up in Folsom with his parents and sister, Christine. He attended Edgewood Elementary School, Ridley Middle School and graduated from Ridley High School, where he participated in the jazz band and the pit orchestra for the school musicals. “I started playing saxophone when I was in third grade,” said Joe. “I have always loved playing and performing for others.”

Joe’s love for music continued at West Chester University. It led him to pursue an undergraduate degree in Music Education with a Jazz Minor and then a post-graduate degree in Music Performance. While at West Chester, he organized and performed in a series of campus-wide concerts to raise money for VH1 Save the Music. Joe continued to make a difference by co-founding an organization to unite and support the music ensembles on campus with the help of the Student Government Association.

Today, Joe is a performer, educator and creator of music. He is currently in his 15th year with the Rose Tree Media School District. Over the years, Joe has taught choir and founded the musical program at Springton Lake Middle School, directed one of the jazz bands at Penncrest High School and served as the music coordinator for the school district. Joe now spends the school year as the music teacher at Indian Lane Elementary School.

Joe explained that he has taken his love of music and education to a new level by creating video content to teach young people how to play instruments both alone and with others. “I am the founder of www.FishyBeats.com, which teaches kids to keep a beat to fun and popular songs,” Joe explained. “The main focus is on recorder and boomwhackers (plastic tubes that are pitched), but I also create body percussion videos that teach kids to keep a beat without instruments.”

“I enjoy my career and I love teaching,” Joe remarked. “If I am not playing music at school, you can usually find me playing music somewhere else! I love playing different instruments and am never afraid of a new musical challenge.” Joe said that although he is known as a saxophonist, he frequently plays guitar, keyboard, and even sings. He has performed all genres of music along the east coast with various groups. These days, he mainly plays solo or with the Rad and Kell band and occasionally plays at weddings.

Joe’s wife Paige is originally from Hamilton, NJ, where she grew up with her parents and two brothers. In high school, she was a cheerleader and active in her graduating class activities. After

Continued on page 8 graduation, Paige went to community college for her under graduate degree, then attended Dixon School of Nursing. She became a Registered Nurse and received her BSN from Penn State University before earning her Master of Nursing in leadership and management from Western Governors University.

Paige has worked as an Emergency Room Nurse for the past eight years and also works as a recovery room nurse from time to time. “I love that every day is different and that I continue to learn new things daily,” Paige said. “Thankfully, nursing has allowed me the flexibility I need to maximize my time at home raising my children.”

Paige and Joe’s love story began in Sea Isle City, NJ, where, coinci dentally, many of our featured couples’ love stories began. Perhaps Sea Isle should consider changing their slogan from Smile, You’re in Sea Isle to Sea Isle, From One Kiss to Wedded Bliss.

It was the summer of 2016 when Joe was renting a beach house with fellow teachers, and Paige was just two doors away, staying with friends from nursing school. “Paige and I met on the steps of the Purple House on 42nd Street, one of Sea Isle’s original homes that was built in Philadelphia and "planted" in Sea Isle City back in 1900,” Joe explained. “My friends and I rented that home for many summers.”

Paige said that her friend Brooke knew some of Joe’s roommates and that the two of them planned to meet up with Brooke’s friends at the purple house one night towards the end of the summer. Joe was there and had just finished playing music with the band "Rad and Kell" at the Carousel when he noticed Paige. “We clicked right away and learned that we share a love for music and a deep passion for our chosen careers,” he said. “We had our first official date at a Blink 182 concert on Montage Mountain in Scranton, and the rest is history.”

Their romance continued into the summer of 2017 when Joe played weekly at the Carousel in Sea Isle. “He proposed to me on stage in front of our friends and family,” Paige said. “Joe was playing his final song, Jersey Girl by Bruce Springsteen, when he popped the question. It was so special because Joe arranged for my family and friends to come out right after I said yes.”

Joe and Paige married the following year at the Mendenhall Inn in Chadds Ford and honeymooned in Jamaica. They began married life in Folsom, where Joe had been living, before moving into their forever home in Newtown Square in 2019. “We wanted to find a community that would be a great place to raise children,” Joe explained. “We are so fortunate to have found a home in a vibrant neighborhood with annual block parties, 4th of July red, white and blue outdoor game competitions and winter holiday festivities complete with a visit from Santa himself.” Paige said that Joe has become the neighborhood DJ for these events and has been know to perform live from time to time.

Isabella (Bella) is Paige and Joe’s two ½-year-old daughter. “Bella is ALL personality,” laughed Paige. “Like her dad, she loves music and dancing and says hello to everyone she sees on our neighborhood walks.” Paige also said that Bella had shown interest in helping bake goodies for family and friends this past holiday season.

Their son Pierce is ten months old and affectionately called “Peek” by his big sister. His parents said that Pierce loves to go with the flow, jump in his jumperoo, and his face lights up when he sees his sister.

Yes, Paige and Joe have two children, but the title of firstborn no doubt goes to Rylie, their 5-year-old Beagle/Schnauzer mix. Paige and Joe rescued Rylie on the day they got home from their honeymoon when she was just a puppy. “Rylie is so gentle and loving with Bella and Pierce,” said Joe. “She is a big part of the Fisher family, and she certainly knows it!”

For the Fishers, quality time with family and friends is a priority. Joe’s parents still live in Folsom, and Paige’s parents are just an hour away in Hamilton. They love to stay active in their neighborhood but also take time for fun and sun in Sea Isle. Some of their favorite spots at the shore are the Cape May Zoo, Mike’s Seafood, LouDogs and Fractured Prune Donuts. But no matter where they travel, home is where their hearts belong.

Joe and Paige, thank you for sharing your story with our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors. With all the music in the air, there’s bound to be lots of lovin’ everywhere!

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Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com. N S

by Lisa Jeffries