Winthrop Fish M.D.

Longtime Anchorage physician Dr. Winthrop Fish, 86, died in Anchorage on April 15, 2010, of complications of Parkinson's disease.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Providence Alaska Medical Center Chapel, with a reception afterward in the Pulliam Conference Room, on the second floor of the T-Tower, at the hospital.

Dr. Fish was born Feb. 7, 1924, in Los Angeles to Dr. Ezra and Margaret Miller Fish. After graduating from Los Angeles High and completing his college freshman year at California Institute of Technology, he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. His military service included time in the Italian and Philippines campaigns.

After his military service, Dr. Fish decided his true calling was medicine, a profession many members of his family practiced. He graduated in pre-med from the University of California at Berkeley and then attended Columbia University's School of Physicians and Surgeons. After graduation from medical school, he held internships at Francis Delafield, P&S and other prestigious hospitals.

He moved to Alaska in 1957 and continued to practice here, primarily at Providence Hospital, until his retirement in 1986. He was the first board-certified oncologist and nuclear radiation specialist in Alaska and was well-loved by his many patients, not only for his excellent care and compassion but his laser-sharp humor and wit.

Dr. Fish was active in medical affairs, being elected chief of staff at Providence Hospital multiple times, chairing many hospital and medical society committees and being elected a fellow and later a governor of the American Academy of Physicians. He was instrumental in establishing and also served on the WAMI (Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) board that has helped Alaskans receive their medical degrees.

Dr. Fish was a particular favorite of nurses, believing that they were full partners in the provision of medical services to patients, and he treated them accordingly. He followed through with this conviction by providing for and funding a nurses' education program named in honor of his first wife, Carol, who had been a registered nurse.

Dr. Fish was not all medicine. He was a sole parent to two young daughters after Carol's death. He fished, hunted, flew, skied, sailed, scuba dived, trained springer spaniels, climbed and enjoyed all of the outdoor activities that Alaska and warmer climes offered. He exposed his daughters to these as well, and during his later years he and his wife, Sheila, with many family members and friends, enjoyed sailing trips in the Caribbean, Tonga, Thailand and elsewhere. He especially loved the duck flats, their beauty and the occasional duck that he cooked with his secret recipe. Winthrop loved to read on a plethora of subjects and didn't hesitate to express his opinion, many of which found their way to the letters to the editor of the Daily News and The Anchorage Times.

Retirement found him with his wife tracking big game in Africa, canoeing with hippos, stalking through South American jungles and in general marveling at the wonders of this world.

Dr. Fish is survived by his widow, Sheila Gallagher Fish; daughters, Meg Hatlen (Joel), and Laura Hubbard; stepdaughters, Anne Larche and Marcia Alfaro (Dr. Virgil); 10 wonderful grandchildren, Anne H. Dickinson, Tim Hatlen, Brooke and Winthrop Hubbard, Isabella, Leila and Basil Alfaro, Beth and Ben Morino, and Jeremy Swayroan; brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Connie Fish of Pasadena, Calif.; and many friends in Alaska -- the von Wichmans in particular -- and California.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol; and daughter, Jane.

His ashes will be scattered over the duck flats this summer and at one of his favorite places in Prince William Sound.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fish Family Nurses Education Fund, c/o The Providence Foundation, P. O. Box 196604, Anchorage, 99519-6604 and/or to Hospice of Anchorage, 500 West International Airport Road, Ste. C, Anchorage, 99518.

Cremation was with Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home.