Guillermo ‘Willie’ Fisch was an ever-present joyous  institution, a larger-than-life personality who brought joy to all who knew, met, or even just saw him. Willie passed away in 2017, but his memory lives on in the lives of so many who now have the chance to share his memory with the world passing by.

After a busy career that took him to places all over the world, Guillermo had accepted a position in a very small town of Bingen, Washington as one of the original employees of a newly created tech business called Insitu. His prior experience with the tuna fishing fleets and marine industry overall, made him a key as the liaison for one of their intended market targets for their UAV product. 

Willy served on the Bingen City Council. He was lovingly referred to as the ‘other mayor of Bingen’. He walked every day through downtown Bingen with a routine that included smoking a swisher sweet cigar, purchasing a lottery ticket and visiting with every person he met along the way. He dressed with style and was a true gentleman in every way possible. 

Willy was the founder of the 5:03 Club. This was for drinks immediately after work, across the street from the Insitu office space, in the local wine tasting room. It took three minutes to get there for most of them. After that tasting room closed, he and his wife Jeri purchased and renovated a derelict house on the next block and created a lovely space there to host his friends and fellow wine drinkers. Willyisms were shared at these gatherings. Many solid connections were bonded over tasty food, laughter and of course, good wine.  A gracious man who always had a witty response.  (see photos below)

Some of Willie’s friends banded together with the idea to immortalize Willie in a joyous bronze sculpture that would be placed in a prominent location, visible to all passers-by in Willie’s home city of Bingen, WA. The original concept was for a smaller piece, but when Willy’s long time friend, renowned sculpture artist Douglas C. Granum, committed to designing and creating the artwork, it suddenly became larger than life! The craftsmen at Parks Bronze in Joseph, Oregon worked with Doug to produce another awesome and uniquely detailed bronze sculpture for people to admire for many years to come.

More than 70 people donated to make this project possible, many with $503. Whether you knew Willie personally, recognized his ebullient personality in passing, or just wanted to be a part of sharing the joy of his larger-than-life personality with others, people came together for this memorial. 

As a special tribute and fundraiser for the statue, Franco Marchesi of Marchesi Wines in Hood River, OR created the delicious 2017 Oh Joy of Joys tempranillo with a limited bottling. 

In April of 2024, during Bingen’s Centennial Birthday Bash, the Oh Joy of Joys statue was unveiled in it’s permanent location at 115 Steuben St.  Stop by and say Hi to Willie the next time you are in downtown Bingen. This statue is now a permanent installation of the Big Art Northshore program. 

The Northshore Community Foundation 501c3 welcomes all donations at any time for ongoing maintenance and insurance expenses.

Artist Doug Granum on far right, at Parks Bronze    

                           From quiet homes and first beginnings

                           Out to the undiscovered ends

                           There’s nothing worth the wear of winning

                           But laughter, and the love of friends

•            Hilaire Belloc – and Willy’s favorite toast at any gathering