Edwin R Fish

Edwin R. Fish, 53, of Kersey Drive, Sandy Creek passed peacefully on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse while wrapped in the loving arms of his wife and two children. Some may say that Ed lost his long, courageous battle with anaplastic astrocytoma, but his family chooses to believe that he won his battle and is now free and flying high. They take comfort in knowing his spirit will remain with them.

He leaves behind his devoted wife, Kristin, his adoring daughter, Rachel, and his admiring son, Ethan. Also left behind are his parents-in-law, David and Karen Kehoe who thought of Ed more as a son than a son-in-law. They often said that they could not have hand-picked a better husband for their daughter or father for their grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Irwin Fish and his wife, Michelle, a brother-in-law, Kurt Kehoe and his wife, Monika, three nephews, a large extended family, and many beautiful friends who were more like family. He also leaves behind his best furry companion, Ellie, the cat that he claimed he never wanted. 

Edwin was born in Endicott on November 22, 1967 to Louis and Helene Fish. He graduated from Seton Catholic Central in Binghamton in 1985. Ed studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Jefferson Community College. He married his teenage sweetheart and soulmate, Kristin Lee Kehoe on August 5, 1989 at The Eis House in Mexico.

After long careers in bank management and driving tractor trailers, Ed found his true calling when he became a licensed practical nurse in 2013. He was employed by Oral Surgery of Northern NY until his diagnosis. He will be remembered as a compassionate nurse that could calm an anxious patient with his care and witty humor. We have been told that Ed’s jokes and famous one-liners are still being told in the office. 

Upon diagnosis of a disease with a poor prognosis, Ed was determined to fight with every ounce of his being, and his family fought just as hard with him and for him. Being the adventurous person that he was, Ed wanted to “do it all” in the time he had left. He didn’t realize that he had already done it all. Perhaps he had known that his “dash” would be shortened. Although he lived on this earth for only 53 years, he filled his “dash” with things that some will not achieve in a hundred years. He learned to fly gliders and single-engine planes as a young man. He had a knack for putting others before himself and lending a helping hand or a comforting word to someone in need. Ed saved lives and brought new lives into the world while volunteering as a firefighter and EMT. His life was filled with many other talents and interests that included telling jokes, making others laugh, running 5Ks and half-marathons, making home improvements, coaching kids, traveling, camping, kayaking, hiking, building, gardening, tinkering with cars, driving limousines, flying his drone, skiing, hunting, and reading books by Greg Iles. One of his doctors appropriately referred to him as a Renaissance man because of his many talents. Above all else, Edwin was a family man. He was most proud to be a dad and always had a picture or story to share about his two kids. Ed was always up for an adventure that almost always included his family. He rarely missed his children’s events and quickly became known as “Dad” to all. 

Ed’s family would like to thank his care team at Upstate Cancer Center for giving them the gift of more time together, as well as the staff at Crouse Hospital for their compassion and comfort in Ed’s final days. Lastly, we would like to thank the many family and friends that made our life a little easier along our journey through their acts of kindness.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, October 7 from 4-7pm. at Summerville Funeral Home in Sandy Creek. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made to support.stachestrong.org/edfish/ to aid in the ongoing fight against brain cancer; one of the most understudied and deadliest forms of cancer.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edwin R Fish, please visit our floral store.