Nick Fish
{{Short description|American politician and lawyer (1958–2020)}}
{{about|the American politician|the atheist activist|American Atheists#Leadership}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nick Fish
| office = Portland City Commissioner
| termstart = 2008
| termend = January 2, 2020
| predecessor = Erik Sten
| successor = Dan Ryan
| birth_place = Millbrook, New York, U.S.
| relatives = Fish family
| alma_mater = Harvard University (BA)
Northeastern University (JD)
| birth_date = {{Birth-date|September 30, 1958}}
| birth_name = Nicholas Stuyvesant Fish
| death_date = {{Death-date and age|January 2, 2020|September 30, 1958}}
| death_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| image = Commissioner Nick Fish.jpg
}}
Nicholas Stuyvesant Fish (September 30, 1958 – January 2, 2020) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a Commissioner of Portland, Oregon from 2008 to 2020. A Democrat, Fish worked with Portland Parks & Recreation, the Portland Housing Bureau, and the Bureau of Environmental Services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/|title=Nick Fish (In Memoriam) | the City of Portland, Oregon|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=2020-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108152708/https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/|url-status=live}}
Early life
Fish was born and raised in Millbrook, New York.{{cite web|last=Fish|first=Nick|title=Democratic Party of Oregon|url=http://www.dpo.org/people/nick-fish|accessdate=23 July 2012|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721084341/http://www.dpo.org/people/nick-fish|url-status=live}} He is a member of the prominent Fish political family. He was the son of Julia MacKenzie and Hamilton Fish IV, who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1995. His grandfather, Hamilton Fish III, represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1920 to 1945 and served in 369th U.S. Infantry Regiment known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." Fish's great-great grandfather was Hamilton Fish, the 26th United States Secretary of State.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2010/09/family_ties_nick_fish_hopes_to.html|title=Portland city Commissioner Nick Fish hopes to secure a medal for a WWI soldier who served with his grandfather|last=Bingham|first=Larry|date=2010-09-28|website=oregonlive|language=en|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118024035/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2010/09/family_ties_nick_fish_hopes_to.html|url-status=live}}
Career
After graduating from Harvard University in 1981, Fish worked as a legislative aide for Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University in 1986. Fish practiced law in New York City and in Portland, Oregon.{{Cite web |url=https://dpo.org/people/nick-fish |title=Democratic Party of Oregon-Commissioner Nick ish |access-date=2019-11-18 |archive-date=2019-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529224501/https://dpo.org/people/nick-fish |url-status=live }}
Fish spent ten years representing health care workers and unions in New York City. He was appointed to Manhattan Community Board Five, a neighborhood association, serving as chair for two years.{{Cite web|url=https://dpo.org/people/nick-fish|title=Nick Fish {{!}} Democratic Party of Oregon|website=dpo.org|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529224501/https://dpo.org/people/nick-fish|url-status=live}}
Fish championed the renovation of the Times Square Hotel. Working with community non-profit Common Ground, the hotel was remodeled into affordable housing and a thriving community of theater district workers, residents living with HIV/AIDS, and formerly homeless individuals. The Times Square renovation received the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence in 1997.{{cite web|title=Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence|url=http://www.brunerfoundation.com/rba|publisher=Bruner Foundation|accessdate=3 September 2013}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Fish moved to Portland, Oregon in 1996 after his wife, Patricia Schechter, was offered a teaching position in the History Department at Portland State University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pdx.edu/history/bio-schechter|title=Portland State College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Department of History {{!}} Faculty bio-Patricia Schechter|website=www.pdx.edu|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118023604/https://www.pdx.edu/history/bio-schechter|url-status=live}}
Prior to running for elected office, Fish practiced employment law in Oregon, and hosted Outlook Portland with Nick Fish, a public affairs show on KRCW.{{cn|date=January 2020}}
Fish served on the boards of Home Forward (formerly the Housing Authority of Portland), the Oregon Cultural Trust, Volunteers of America, and the St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund.{{cn|date=January 2020}}
= Politics =
File:Pdxcitycouncil02217-4947 (32933458711).jpg
Fish first ran for a seat on the Portland City Council in 2002, losing to Randy Leonard.{{Cite web |url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/5446 |title=2002 September Special Election - Official Results |access-date=2020-01-03 |archive-date=2020-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103042420/https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/5446 |url-status=live }} He ran again in 2004, losing to future Mayor Sam Adams.{{Cite web |url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/60918 |title=City of Portland 2004 November Election - Official Results |access-date=2017-08-07 |archive-date=2017-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808033854/https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/60918 |url-status=live }} In 2008, Fish again ran for the Council, this time in a special election for the unexpired term of resigned Commissioner Erik Sten. He won the seat with 61.4% of the vote.{{Cite web |url=http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=27116&a=220379 |title=City of Portland 2008 May Election - Official Results |access-date=2015-04-26 |archive-date=2023-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806073929/https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/220379 |url-status=live }} He was re-elected to a full four-year term in 2010 with just under 80% of the vote.{{Cite web |url=http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=27116&a=304164 |title=City of Portland 2010 May Election - Official Results |access-date=2015-04-26 |archive-date=2015-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225000130/http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=304164&c=27116 |url-status=live }}
Until February 2013, Fish served as Commissioner-in-Charge of the Portland Housing Bureau and Portland Parks & Recreation.{{cn|date=January 2020}}
In 2010, Fish led the creation of the new Portland Housing Bureau, streamlining and consolidating the City's housing programs and services. In 2011, he celebrated the opening of Bud Clark Commons, a cornerstone of the City's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.{{cite web|last=Fish|first=Nick|title=Commissioner Nick Fish|url=http://www.portlandonline.com/fish|accessdate=23 July 2012|archive-date=26 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626072136/http://www.portlandonline.com/fish/|url-status=live}}
In June 2013, a shuffling of bureaus among the commissioners by Mayor Hales saw Fish assigned the Bureau of Environment Services and the Portland Water Bureau, and placed in charge of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.{{cite news|last=Kost|first=Ryan|title=Hales shuffles city bureaus|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=June 4, 2013|page=B1|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/06/mayor_charlies_hales_assigns_c.html|accessdate=June 7, 2013|archive-date=June 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611134410/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/06/mayor_charlies_hales_assigns_c.html|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Fish and his wife lived for 20 years in Northeast Portland before renting an apartment in Goose Hollow towards the end of Nick's life.{{Cite web|url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/47688|title=Meet Nick {{!}} The City of Portland, Oregon|website=www.portlandoregon.gov|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118023609/https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/47688|url-status=live}}
Fish was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2017/08/portland_commissioner_nick_fis_3.html|title=Portland Commissioner Nick Fish diagnosed with cancer|last=Oregonian/OregonLive|first=Jessica Floum {{!}} The|date=2017-08-17|website=oregonlive|language=en|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118023606/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2017/08/portland_commissioner_nick_fis_3.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/commissioner-fish-says-hes-blessed-with-support-while-battling-cancer-hopes-wheeler-runs-for-second-term/283-008bee5d-8f6f-4290-aade-4a010662bd93|title=Commissioner Fish says he's blessed with support while battling cancer, hopes Wheeler runs for second term|website=KGW|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118023618/https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/commissioner-fish-says-hes-blessed-with-support-while-battling-cancer-hopes-wheeler-runs-for-second-term/283-008bee5d-8f6f-4290-aade-4a010662bd93|url-status=live}} On December 31, 2019, Fish said he was no longer able to carry out his work as a commissioner and announced his plan to resign upon the election of a successor.{{Cite web |url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/article/750598 |title=A Message to the Community from Commissioner Nick Fish |access-date=2020-01-03 |archive-date=2020-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101082645/https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/article/750598 |url-status=live }} Two days later, Fish died at his home in Portland, Oregon from stomach cancer. He was 61 years old.{{Cite web |url=https://katu.com/news/local/portland-city-commissioner-nick-fish-dies-from-stomach-cancer |title=Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish dead from stomach cancer |access-date=2020-01-03 |archive-date=2020-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103003825/https://katu.com/news/local/portland-city-commissioner-nick-fish-dies-from-stomach-cancer |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Nick Fish}}
{{Portal|Oregon}}
- [https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fish/ Commissioner Nick Fish] on City of Portland website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fish, Nick}}
Category:21st-century Oregon politicians
Category:Deaths from cancer in Oregon
Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in the United States
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:Lawyers from New York City
Category:Lawyers from Portland, Oregon
Category:Northeastern University School of Law alumni
Category:People from Millbrook, New York