Ralph T. Fisher, 94, historian of modern Russia and the founder of the Russian and East European Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, passed away on April 4th, 2015. Professor Fisher was instrumental in developing world class research library in the Russian and East European field at the University of Illinois Library. The annual conference, Ralph and Ruth Fisher Forum, organized thanks to his generous support, attracts scholars from all over the world to debate topics relating to Russian and East European history.