Thomas Edward Fish

United States Air Force Master Sergeant Thomas E Fish, Retired, of Orlando, met his Heavenly Father on January 13, 2021. He was born on November 4, 1938 to M. Charles and Catherine Fish in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was brought up in an Irish-Catholic home. Dad surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ his Savior in 1983 at First Baptist Church/Orlando, and served in their ministry on different teams that included evangelism and the Royal Ambassadors Youth Program. He is survived by his wife of almost 48 years, Carole Ann Thestrup Fish. He is also survived by three sons, Dr. Richard Fish, Charles, and Michael (Mick); 7 Grandchildren Kristiaän, Richard II, Jordan, Candace, Brady, Michael, & Madelyn and 1 Great-Grandson James. Dad is a descendent of the original settlers that came over on the Mayflower, and was a descendent of United States Secretary of State, Hamilton Fish.

A Cold War Veteran, Dad served for 22 years with distinction in the United States Air Force did 2 tours of duty in Da Nang, Vietnam from 1966-1967. He had many roles for which he always volunteered while serving Da Nang Air Marine Base, he most notably served as an O-1 Bird Dog Forward Air Controller assisting US Marines with targeting NVA and Viet Cong movement for which he received the Bronze Star with Valor. Landing in tight spaces like Vietnam’s rice patties exposed dad to Agent Orange, and effected him for many years following the war as a disabled military combat veteran. Following his tour in Vietnam, he was immediately stationed at a radar installation in West Germany for which he helped coordinate NATO assets during the Soviet Union’s invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring. His service in West Germany led to one of his three USAF Commendation Medals.

Following his military career, Dad continued to serve the US Government for an additional 30+ years with the Department of the Army and the United States Postal Service. He loved serving people and giving. Many remember him for his roll as Santa for 20+ years on the East side of Orlando, in many venues including the Chick-fil-A’s located at University At Rouse, Lee Vista & Semoran, and at the Oviedo Chick-fil-A located at Mitchell Hammock & Alafaya Trail. He loved Christmas and all it represents, especially Christ’s birth. He played Santa tofan-dome many young kids and always fostered their imaginations in special ways that included arriving on fire engines, bringing reindeer, a sled, and snow to his events. He’d even let the children pull on his beard, feel the fur on his boots, hold the keys to Santa's North Pole Workshop, and see his Sled Driver’s License.

Dad was extremely involved in his son’s lives, especially their extracurricular activities. Sometimes he’d go into the post office at 4am, driving from Orlando to Rockledge, FL, to put the mail up and get his routes done early to drive to see our ballgames. He never missed a ballgame. He loved watching his boys play sports, especially baseball. This family fan-dome he continued with all his grandchildren in their respective sports. He was a lifelong and die-hard Boston sports fan. From an early age he grew up cheering on the Boston Celtics, Boston Patriots (later the New England Patriots), and was many times disappointed by (his favorite team) the Boston Red Sox. In 2018, he got to experience his dream of seeing them play in the World Series at Fenway Park with his son Mick and grandson Michael. That same year, the UCF Knights Football Program bestowed the honor of being the OUC Hero of the Game where he was recognized on field in front of 50,000 fans and players for his military service and government service to our country. The crowd roared to life and gave him a standing ovation as they chanted “U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A” while the PA announcer read off his awards and contributions. This was one of the few times we had ever seen him cry, as he said this was the parade he never got following Vietnam.

We will miss him dearly on Earth, but we are eager to hug him again in Heaven.

For all our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and those he had an impact, we would love for you to be apart of his celebration of life service, Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 4PM at Bladwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 501 E Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, FL 32765. For those unable to make it in person, please join us online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86408201987?pwd=Zmw4RVlreXh0L1lBUm5PVklzQk1TZz09 , password: 789211