Marilyn Fish taught English to 7th and 8th grade students at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School, was the long-time gymnastics director at the North Suburban YMCA, and now works as a substitute teacher in District 30. She’s a Go Green Northbrook volunteer — and she used to be in the circus.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Morton Grove.
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?
A: I think mostly, I did always want to be a teacher, which is what I did end up doing.
Q: What was your first job?
A: It was hilarious. In downtown Skokie, there was a little store that sold Indian imports, like jewelry, dresses and things like that. They used to tell me to go down in the basement prices on earrings. Sixteen years old, I wound up making it up. They didn’t last very long.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: We have a jellyfish tank. My husband bought it for me as a gift, which is fine, as he does all the work maintaining the tank, which is considerable. And they’re pretty cool.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: Probably Oliverii’s (Trattoria Oliverii, 1358 Shermer Road, Northbrook). It’s nice and quiet and walking distance, and the food is always good. We don’t eat out a whole lot. But we’re thrilled with all the new little restaurants going into downtown Northbrook. Just walk down the street and see whatever you have a taste for.
Q: If you could be on any reality show, which one?
A: I absolutely love ‘American Ninja (Warrior).’ I’m an ex-gymnast. I wish I were 40 years younger. I would try that stuff. Besides being a gymnast, I went to Illinois State and I was in the (Gamma Phi) circus. I was a flyer. I went flying through the air.
Q: Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
A: We own property up in Northern Wisconsin, 48 acres, most of it is bog. Absolutely fascinating.
Q: If you could travel anywhere where would you go?
A: I would love to see Patagonia, because I’m a nature freak, and I’d love to see the mountains, the penguins. On the same trip, maybe the Amazon.
Q: What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen?
A: Definitely the Galapagos. Just the most amazing place ever.
Shout Out is a weekly feature where we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
