William “Bill” Edward Fish, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2026, at the age of 86.

Bill was born on January 29, 1940, in Providence, Rhode Island, son of Edward M (Ted) Fish & Maud Boardman Fish. Throughout his life, he was guided by quiet strength, deep faith, honesty, and a sincere commitment to helping others. He was not one to seek attention. Instead, he lived his values every day and earned the respect of those around him through steady kindness, humility, and integrity. I saw those qualities in him from the very beginning, and they never wavered.

Bill proudly served ten years in the United States Navy. While working as an engineer for Lockheed, he also earned an MBA at the University of New Hampshire. Over the course of his long career, he temporarily sold frozen foods, worked full time as an engineer, and eventually, as a Florida entrepreneur, started a fiberglass pool business.

We met and began our life together in New Hampshire, and his path took him to many places—Rhode Island, Ohio, New York, New Hampshire and the Caribbean Sea—before we made our home together in Vero Beach, Florida in 2000.

Adventure and lifelong learning were at the heart of who Bill was. He had a deep love for U.S. history, mathematics, reading, and trying new things. The outdoors, however, was where he felt most at peace. He found joy in camping, scuba diving, sailing, and traveling across the United States and Canada by RV. One of the greatest chapters of our life together was living and sailing aboard our boat, Set Free, for several years.

Bill also carried a deep respect for the natural world. He believed in caring for the earth and especially loved the beauty, power, and peace of the ocean. Whether he was diving beneath the surface or sailing across it, he felt a responsibility to protect and preserve it.

Service to others was a constant in Bill’s life. In both New Hampshire and Florida, he was active in Lions Clubs International and participated in many service projects. He raised guide dogs for the blind, volunteered in after-school programs, and delivered Meals on Wheels. He also found ways to help through civic and faith-based efforts, including serving on the Vero Beach City Council. If Bill said he was going to do something, he followed through with dedication. You could always count on him.

Bill is survived by me, his loving wife, Nan Thornton; his two sons, Christopher and Stephen Fish; seven grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and his nephews, Edward Fish and Howard Cross.

A memorial service will be held at the First Methodist Church, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Wednesday Feeding Program at the First Methodist Church in Vero Beach (https://www.firstvero.church/give, or 772-562-1900) or to the local chapter of Meals on Wheels via SRA (https://www.seniorresourceassociation.org/giving-matters, 772-569-0760).