Donald Fisher, Co-Founder of The Gap

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Donald Fisher, who co-founded Gap Inc with his wife Doris forty years ago, died on Sunday after a battle with cancer, the clothing retailer said.

He was 81.

The company that the Fishers began as a little denim store in San Francisco now operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Ireland, and it has been credited with inventing the specialty retail category.

The Fishers opened their first store in San Francisco in 1969, and named it The Gap in reference to the generational differences between baby boomers and their parents.

In a statement, Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Fisher also supported such areas as education and the environment.

“He treated people with respect and worked to make a significant impact in his community, making it a better place for people to live, grow and prosper,” Schwarzenegger said.

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