Former S.S. Kemp Owner Howard Fishman Remembered

It is with heavy hearts that FEDA shares news of the passing of Howard Hirsch Fishman, the former owner of S.S. Kemp Co. and a past president of FEDA.

Fishman passed away Aug. 22 in Sarasota, Florida, at the age of 96. Born in New York City, he made his home in Cleveland in 1953. He attended Ohio University and served in the U.S. Coast Guard, attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade. A longtime member of Temple Emanu El in Orange, Ohio, he and his wife, Pearl, were involved in many local school levies and bond issues.

Fishman’s professional career was marked by vision, innovation, and leadership. Ten years after acquiring S.S. Kemp Co., the company was named Dealer of the Year in 1988 by Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine. He went on to serve as president of FEDA from 1992 to 1994.

In 1996, Fishman was inducted into the Foodservice Equipment & Supplies Hall of Fame, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the industry. He was also a founder of International Foodservice Equipment Distributors (IFED), the industry’s first equipment buying group. Through that innovative concept, he helped to create a model that ultimately changed the structure of the foodservice equipment and supplies industry.

Over the years, Fishman and his sons, Mark and Steve, grew S.S. Kemp into a respected foodservice equipment dealer. That success eventually led to it being acquired by TriMark USA in 2007. The company continues to operate in Ohio as a TriMark branch.

Fishman is survived by his children, Mark (Terri) Fishman, Cathy (Scott) Wallenstein, and Steven (Jennifer) Fishman; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A service was held Aug. 27 at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Solon, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Howard Fishman to Breakthrough T1D.