A passion you might not expect from the associate vice president of residences and auxiliary services.

But outside the office, Fisher never hesitates to leap 11,000 feet out of a plane.

He has done it more than 700 times including free falls in Germany, France and Australia.

“I like to get 100 jumps in a year,” Fisher said. “When I retire from CMU in two or three years, I want to make a jump in every state.”

Pictures of Fisher can be seen at Central Michigan Skydivers, 5354 E. Airport Road.

He went skydiving twice in a row Thursday with three other divers.

“It’s fun every time,” Fisher said. “The adrenaline rush hangs with you for about half an hour.”

He is a “D licensed” diver, a level which requires a minimum of 500 jumps including at least two at night, he said.

Fisher began skydiving in 1971 and, after quitting for 29 years, said he became hooked again in 2003.

He has taken both his daughters skydiving and almost got his wife Jeannie Fisher to go also.

“I think it’s wonderful that he does this,” Jeannie said.

John’s daughter Jessica is also a thrill seeker – she makes a living performing in the circus.

His boss David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, attended Fisher’s Thursday skydive.

After landing smoothly on the ground, Fisher pulled a gift for Burdette from his nylon diving suit – a free skydive.

It will be Burdette’s first time and a perfect gift for his 65th birthday which was Sunday, he said.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Burdette said.

Fisher’s favorite activity is also cheaper than one might think, he said.

If a diver has a skydiving license and their own equipment, it only costs $22 per dive.

“Three jumps on the weekend is cheaper than a round of golf,” Fisher said.

For a first-time diver, it would be $225, he said.

Traverse City resident Doc Ferrazza, a seasoned skydiver, joined Fisher on Thursday.

At 69 years old, Ferrazza has been skydiving for 45 years. He is also a member of the group Skydivers Over Sixty.

He said he has 1,500 civilian skydives to his name and has lost count of his number of military dives.

This includes many stadium appearance and birthday appearances, he said.

“I’ve tried to quit many times and just can’t,” Ferrazza said. “It’s very addicting. Only a skydiver or a bird would understand how addicting it is.”

Ferrazza said nothing compares to skydiving’s rush of adrenaline.

“Patrick Swayze said, (in the movie ‘Point Break’) ‘some people snort for it, some people shoot veins for it, all you have to do is jump’,” Ferrazza said. “I’ll keep trying to quit but it’s not going to happen.”

In honoring Army veterans and celebrating future soldiers on Veteran’s Day, the Central Michigan University ROTC has coordinated skydivers to come in.

The “Fastrax” Army skydiving team will descend into the stadium with lit flares on their legs, leaving colorful, smoky trails.

One parachuter will carry the game ball and deliver it to the officials upon touchdown.

“I just hope they don’t get hung up on the uprights,” said Maj. Ryan Finley, a member of the “Chippewa Battalion’s” cadre, jokingly.

Before the Veteran’s Day game at 8 p.m. today against Toledo, cadets will be outside Kelly/Shorts Stadium to serve classic tailgate sustenance to veterans in attendance.

“We’re cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for all the veterans that show up,” Finley said.

The ROTC is expecting about 500 veterans and their families to come to the game. Tailgate begins at 5 p.m.

New and old

Many cadets involved in the celebration today are excited to partake in the experience.

“Parachuting that football into the stadium is going to bring a lot of attention,” said Cdt. Cpl. and Eaton Rapids freshman Nick Vandermoere.

Cdt. Col. Jennifer Howell, graduating in December, is looking forward to having a big send-off at her last football game.

“I’m excited (the parachuting is) finally going to happen, weather permitting,” the Mount Pleasant senior said.

During halftime, the cadets, veterans and new army enlistees will take to the field to be honored for their future and past commitments and sacrifices.

“The concept of it is you have the new standing next to the old,” Finley said.

He said cadets do not get to see enough of the continuity of the military.

Brigadier General John Kulhavi, a ’65 CMU graduate, Vietnam veteran and former Board of Trustees member, will lead the group, and the Michigan Army National Guard Band will be on hand to perform.