Long-time HVAC and cooling business calls it a career

Roger Fisher is selling his business to Mark Farone

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – After 48 years of being on call 24 hours a day, Roger Fisher (right) is eager to retire. He has eight more days and then he will pass his business assets on to Mark Farone.

The two worked together for 13 years at Barclay and Fowler in Brockport. Then that business was bought by Griffith Energy. Fisher started his own business, Roger Fisher Heating and Air Conditioning, about 20 years ago. Farone followed not long after, venturing out on his own with Farone Heating and Cooling.

In 2002, Farone suffered a broken back in a car accident. He was laid up for nearly a year. Fisher handled many of Farone’s customers, and didn’t take them as his own.

That gesture allowed Farone to return to work and his business.

“He covered my calls for me,” Farone said today. “Without that I probably would have lost my business.”

Fisher found it difficult to go on vacation once he was in business for himself. But Farone, when he returned to work, urged Fisher to take a break. In recent years, Fisher has been able to take off five or six weeks a year, with Farone and his staff of two technicians handling Fisher’s customers.

Fisher, 73, relished the getaways, the chance to ride his snowmobiler and not be jostled by late-night service calls.

He is selling his inventory to Farone and turning over his list of 1,200 customers. He said they will be in good hands with Farone.

“He’s done a real good job over the years,” Fisher said. “He’s local and he’s young enough to do it 24-7.”

Farone lives in Barre. He has two employees, James Pinson and Ed Snyder. Farone will officially take over Fisher’s business on Jan. 1.

Fisher said he is looking forward to that day, and getting on his snowmobile.

“I’m going to be 74, but when I’m on the snowmobile, I’m 42,” he said.