Bill was a true believer in our India missions
We regret to announce the passing of loyal long-time SAF member William L. Fish of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Bill and his brother, Dr. Rob Fish, were the closest living relatives of Drs. Ida S. and Ida B. Scudder. Rob, now retired, lives in Sarasota, Florida. Rob Fish served two terms as President of SAF from 2011 to 2017. Presidents are limited to two consecutive terms.
In 2000, Bill traveled to India with the Scudder Association for the Centennial of CMC.
Rob notes, “As you can read with the names of ours and his family, the Scudder name was very dear to him.”
Dr. Fish recommends that anyone wanting to make a donation in Bill’s memory should give it to the Scudder Association Foundation.
Foundation President Sue Swanson said, “Bill was probably best known for his generosity and his support of the work of his aunt, Dr. Ida B., who created the first radiology department at CMC.” Dr. Ida went to London to be trained as a radiologist so she could set up the desperately needed facility.
Obituary
William L. Fish, 82, of Fort Wayne, IN passed away August 1st, 2025 at the Parkview Regional
Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born April 7th, 1943 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of
the late Charles Henry Fish and Lillian Scudder Fish. Bill, as he was known, began his business
career waxing cars and cutting grass at age 10 from his family’s home in Riverside, Connecticut. He
formed a business with several of his friends and did quite well over the summers. After graduating
from Greenwich High School he went on to Tri-State College (now Trine University) in Angola,
Indiana graduating in 1965 with a business degree.
Using his acquired business skills, as his background, he worked for several companies moving up
the ladder with each step. He became Manager of Purchasing with Phelps Dodge magnet Wire Company
in Fort Wayne. He accepted 2 other offers over the years which involved constantly relocating the
family. His last position was as Director, Corporate Purchasing with F.L. Aerospace in Urbana,
Ohio.
At age 50, Bill left the corporate world and became a senior tax professional with H & R Block for
17 years before eventually forming his own tax practice in 2006. During that time, he also started
into the landscaping business, forming both Accent Lawn Manicure Service and Pro Lawn Landscaping.
The companies flourished for 20 years until he sold them in 2009 to partially retire. Along the way
he also purchased Turf Service Equipment Sales and Repair, an outdoor power dealership and repair
business. He appreciated the history of its location in the famous Roots Camp and Ski Haus building
on North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne. Bill sold turf Service at the end of 2011 to complete his
retirement from his landscaping businesses. His tax practice continued with his business acumen and
years in accounting until his passing.
Bill was more than just an avid Cleveland Browns football fan. He helped start the original Browns
Backers Club of Fort Wayne and has founded the Northern Indiana Browns Backers Club which meets at
The Fairfield located on Jefferson Blvd, downtown, Fort Wayne. Bill is a long time member of First
Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon Bill continued to be a very loyal alumnus of Trine
University and the member emeritus of his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. He was a member of the Leo
Masonic Lodge No. 224. Bill was an Eagle Scout, and black belt level Order of the Arrow with the
Boy Scouts of America. He was a former member of the Scottish Rite, and the Shrine, both of Fort
Wayne and the B.Y.O.B. Elks of van Wert, Ohio,
He is survived by a brother, Robert H. Fish of Sarasota, FL, a son, Jason Scudder Fish of Fort
Wayne, and a daughter, Michelle L. Keplar of Reno, Nevada also eight grandchildren and four great
grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, Charles Scudder Fish in 2003.
Preferred memorials are to the organ fund at First Presbyterian Church and to the family fire
relief fund of the American Red Cross where he actively volunteered for many years and to The Scudder Association Foundation.
Bill will be cremated as arranged by the D.O. McComb Funeral Home. There will be a Celebration of Life Service
at First Presbyterian Church at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 12th followed by a catered lunch at the
church.
