Vincent Fish

1950 - 2020

Fish, Vincent H. K.

MADISON - Vincent H. K. Fish, age 70, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, at Fountainhead Homes after a long illness and after contracting Covid-19. He was born on June 3, 1950, in Lock Haven, Pa., the son of Vincent and Hazel (Dayer) Fish.

Vincent graduated from Grant High School, Fox Lake, Ill., received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, and received his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Vincent married Ruth Kleban on May 18, 1975, at the Unitarian Society, Madison.

As a social worker and later a psychologist, he worked tirelessly to provide state of the art mental health services, especially to underserved populations, initially at the Dane County Mental Health Center and then in a multidisciplinary private practice. He was also a visionary and systemic thinker, and he helped start three agencies. Vince (as he was known by his patients, colleagues, and friends) was a founding member of Family Therapy Center of Madison; Family Therapy Training Center, which provided training to professionals; and Family Sexual Abuse Treatment, Inc. He was also instrumental in creating the annual Midwest Conference on Child Sexual Abuse, which lasted over 20 years. Finally, he taught and provided supervision for decades at the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Social Work and Department of Counseling Psychology. After a long career as both a social worker and psychologist, he retired in 2013, due to health reasons.

He loved music and was an excellent musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he was a central member of an amateur music group, the Dilettantes, which played and sang together for decades. Vincent also enjoyed reading, social Latin dancing, and spending time with his family and with his nieces and nephews on the East Coast. He cared deeply for his family and friends and will be sorely missed.

Vincent is survived by his wife, Ruth; two sons, Jonathan (Alexandra) Fish-Lubniewski and David Charles Kleban Fish; sister, Catherine (Robert) Scott; numerous nieces and nephews; and his many dear friends, including Carol Faynik and Erica Serlin. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two half-brothers, Peter (Viola) Fish and Laurence Dean Fish.

Private family services will be held in the spring. The family wishes to thank the staff of Fountainhead Homes, DeForest, and Heartland Hospice for all of their wonderful care and support given to Vincent. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761