Fish, Robert D. Robert Denver Fish, 78, passed away Aug. 12, 2011, of cancer at Denali Center with his Alaska family by his side. Denver was born Oct. 11, 1932, to Charles Louis and Bertha Mae (Kitchen) Fish in Pittsburgh. He graduated from New Brighton Area High School in 1949, after which he joined the Army. He served in Georgia and Japan from 1949 to 1954. Denver married Elizabeth Jane Hazelbach on Nov. 2, 1956. They had two daughters, Patricia Ann and Jean Elizabeth. After Elizabeth died, Denver married Dianne Hasimoto from Japan and had one daughter with her, Yoku Komatsu. Denver worked as a bus driver, truck driver, taxi driver, fire dispatcher and for a security company in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Japan, Canada and Alaska. Denver loved to travel but once he decided to settle in one place, he found his home in Alaska. When his health got too bad to continue driving a cab, he was in and out of nursing homes and Denali Center until his health dictated he stay in one place, Denali Center. Denver liked living at Denali Center and he loved the camaraderie with staff and fellow residents. Denver held the Denali Center staff in high regard. They truly made him feel at home. While living there, he accomplished his goal of quitting smoking. He was proud of this achievement and encouraged others to to quit. Denver had an impish sense of humor. With a twinkle in his eye and a boyish grin he loved playing tricks on unsuspecting victims, all in good fun. Denver enjoyed listening to the police scanner and browsing the Internet on his laptop. Denver was interested in anything electronic and often hooked up resident's TVs, VCRs, etc. He also fixed their computer problems and helped the staff when they were having glitches. Denver was introspective and at the same time outgoing. You didn't get much information out of him. He would give you just a little snippet about his past life - all he wanted you to know. However, he was generous to a fault. If he liked you, which was most people, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for you. The final line of his last will and testament gives a perfect example of the way Denver thought. "My spirit I temporarily bequeath to the Great Creator because I will need it again when I come back." Denver was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elizabeth; daughters, Jean and Yoku; and sister, Charlotte Louise Fish. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Ann and William Edward Hice; granddaughter, Adrienne Nichole Sisler; grandson, Samuel Richard Hice; and great-grandson Ethan Christopher Brewer, all of western Pennsylvania; sister, Ruth Fish Funkhauser of Clarksburg, Va.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; one cousin Andy and Lori McNeil lives in North Pole. A memorial service was held in his honor on Aug. 18 at Denali Center. His cremains will be scattered in various locations in Alaska. Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home. Published in Daily News-Miner on August 24, 2011