University President William P. Leahy, S.J., will present the President’s Medal for Excellence to John F. Fish, P’13, ’18, ’23, at the 36th annual Wall Street Business Leadership Council Tribute Dinner in April, honoring his years of extraordinary leadership and service. 

Fish, who serves as chair of the Boston College Board of Trustees, has been a transformative force at the University for nearly two decades. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2006, and has since served in numerous leadership positions, including as the inaugural chair of BC’s Board of Regents and the first non–BC alumnus to head the Board of Trustees. In each capacity, he has demonstrated unwavering support for the University and its mission as a Jesuit, Catholic educational institution.

As chair of the Board of Trustees since 2014, Fish has helped guide Boston College through a period of sustained momentum, advancing academic excellence and strengthening student life, athletics, and financial aid. Alongside his wife, Cyndy, and several other key University leaders, he co-chairs Soaring Higher: the Campaign for Boston College. The couple are among the University’s most generous benefactors, supporting a wide range of initiatives, including a gift that made possible the Fish Field House, a 115,700-square-foot indoor athletics facility for BC student-athletes that opened in 2018.

His central role in advancing Soaring Higher, the University’s $3 billion fundraising campaign, has helped position BC for continued growth in the future. “Boston College’s rise to its place among the nation’s best universities is one of the great success stories in American higher education,” Fish said. “I take pride in BC’s consistent advancement and am honored to be part of a campaign that will help the University achieve its bold aspirations.”

Beyond campus, Fish is chairman and CEO of Suffolk, one of the nation’s leading privately held construction firms. A graduate of Bowdoin College, he holds honorary degrees from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Regis College, and Curry College. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in business and real estate, and he brings that perspective to the numerous civic and philanthropic boards on which he serves. John and Cyndy have three daughters, Christina, Jennifer, and Caroline, who have all earned degrees from Boston College.

Fish often speaks about the personal impact Boston College has had on his life and family. “My involvement with BC brought back into view the things that are really important,” he reflected. “First and foremost, educating men and women who will use their gifts in the service of others.”

The Boston College President’s Medal for Excellence is an honor presented by Fr. Leahy at the annual Wall Street Business Leadership Council Tribute Dinner, recognizing exceptional individuals for their outstanding leadership, career achievements, and contributions to the University and wider society.

The 36th annual Wall Street Business Leadership Council Tribute Dinner will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, returning to the Waldorf Astoria New York for the first time since 2017. Boston College alumni, parents, friends, and University leadership gather for this signature celebration in support of the Wall Street Business Leadership Council Scholarship, which provides scholarships for students in the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program. During the past 35 years, this event has raised more than $60 million in scholarship funds. 

In addition to the presentation of the Medal for Excellence to Fish, the evening will celebrate the achievements of graduating Presidential Scholars. For ticket information and event details, please visit tributedinner.bc.edu.