Edward A. Fish

Edward A. Fish, 89, local artist and husband of the late Betty D. (Verhey) Fish, of Rockport, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2014 at the Addison Gilbert Hospital. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 28, 1925, he was the son of the late Andrew Jackson Fish and Lucia E. (Bacon) Fish. Ned served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he was the recipient of the Emlen Cresson Scholarship. He also studied at the Academy of de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris. While visiting an art museum in Paris, he met his future wife and love of his life, Betty, who was from Holland. They married and moved to the United States where they settled in Marblehead, MA from 1953 to 1968. After working at Graves boat yard for several years, he opened his gallery on State St. and later at the Old Squash House and followed his dream of being an artist and fine arts teacher. He also enjoyed his years acting with the Marblehead Little Theatre. Ned then moved to Gloucester and became an established member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, where he had several galleries. He also worked at City Hall, where he was commissioned to do murals and many portraits of Cape Ann's famous notables. He eventually moved to Rockport and had his gallery there until 2004, when he retired to his home in Pigeon Cove. He is survived by his three daughters, Matthia, wife of Edward Keyes of Gloucester, Elizabeth Glenn, Amy Fish and her beloved dog, Leif, all of Rockport; grandchildren, James and Jeffrey Oliver, Suzanne and Alexander Keyes, Oliver Fish, Tabitha and Haley Glenn many nieces and nephews. In addition to his beloved wife Betty, he was predeceased by his brother, Andrew Fish; his sisters, Elizabeth Procop, Virginia Jennings, Emily Donaldson and Caroline Anderson. A wonderful, kind, generous, loving man with a heart of gold, he will be forever loved, missed, remembered and never forgotten by all who knew and loved him. In keeping with his wishes, his funeral service will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cape Ann Animal Aid, 4 Paws Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101. Arrangements are by the Burgess & Mackey Funeral Home, 201 Main Street, Rockport.