Black-and-white sketch of an older man with short hair, wearing a suit jacket and collared shirt, smiling and facing forward within a circular border.

Summer 2026

A Grateful Eagle

by John F. Fish, P’13, ’18, ’23

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I came to Boston College in 2006 not as a student, but as an adopted Eagle. What I didn’t expect then was that my BC experience would be just as transformative.

That’s how it seems to work at the Heights. You think you’re just passing through … and then something takes hold.

Over time, as chair of the Boston College Board of Trustees, a BC parent, and a campaign co-chair, I found myself reflecting on Boston College’s incredible journey—from its humble beginnings serving Boston’s Irish Catholic immigrant community, to becoming one of the most sought-after and respected universities in the world. That transformation didn’t happen accidentally. It was built by leaders with courage, faculty committed to excellence, and generations of students and alumni who were shaped by Jesuit values and who carried those values into the world as part of their daily lives.

A BC education is not just an academic model. It is a model for how to live. Once you witness that higher ideal in action, it reshapes how you see everything. It moves you beyond asking “Can we?” to “Should we?” In a world that celebrates capability above almost everything else, that second question is the harder and the far more important one. It is the question that separates ambition from purpose.

For me, the Jesuit values became a lifelong pursuit, a beacon that gave me direction to becoming the kind of leader and the kind of human being I wanted to be. 

I began my relationship with Boston College as an outsider. I conclude my second term as chair of the trustees as a grateful Eagle. A proud Eagle. A lifelong Eagle.

BC didn’t give me a degree. It gave me something harder to earn: a conscience, a compass, and a community. And these, in the end, are the greatest gifts.

John F. Fish recently completed his second and final term as chair of the Boston College Board of Trustees. He also serves as co-chair of Soaring Higher: the Campaign for Boston College and chairman and CEO of Suffolk. John and his wife, Cyndy, have three daughters, Christina, JD’13; Jennifer, MBA’18; and Caroline, MS’23; who have earned degrees from Boston College.

IN THIS ISSUE

A man in a maroon Boston College (BC) pullover stands indoors by a window, smiling, with empty stadium seats and a sports field visible in the background—a scene that truly embodies the Family First spirit at BC.

Family First, BC Always

With expectations rising and the landscape shifting, William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Blake James is leading BC Athletics with a focus on investment, opportunity, and long‑term strength. His vision highlights how support today can elevate every Eagle—and the University as a whole—for years to come.

A man in a "Boston College" hoodie stands on an indoor football field, smiling at the camera. Other people in maroon uniforms, representing BC Football, are visible in the background, capturing the lively spirit of being Back to BC.

“Back to BC Football”

General Manager Kenyatta Watson ’96 is laying the groundwork for players’ success—on the field and in life.

A person with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt and dark blazer, smiles in an office setting adorned with colorful art and certificates on the wall behind them, reflecting their dedication to compassion ministry.

Moved by Compassion

In this edition of Beacon Book Club, Meghan Sweeney shares Jesus Before Christianity.

Students sit in a classroom facing a teacher who speaks in front of a screen displaying an aerial landscape image. As if striking the match of curiosity, some students use laptops, while light reflects off the windows.

Striking the Match

The last five years have seen the most significant expansion of faculty support in Boston College history, and it’s all thanks to an anonymous couple’s creative approach to giving back.

An older man in a suit and red patterned tie smiles while sitting and holding a book, with bookshelves full of books in the background—a quiet moment that feels like a final act of gratitude for a lifetime surrounded by knowledge.

A Final Act of Gratitude

A gift of $125 million from the Patrick F. Cadigan Family Foundation will transform Carney Hall into a state-of-the-art facility—aptly renamed Cadigan Hall.

Aerial view of a large, historic university campus with steady Gothic-style stone buildings, green rooftops, trees, grassy lawns, and walkways on a sunny day—a beacon of tradition and learning.

Steady as a Beacon

Over three decades, philanthropy and leadership have fueled Boston College’s rise—expanding its impact, elevating its mission, and building extraordinary momentum. Take a look back at the milestones that brought BC to this moment and the opportunities that lie ahead.

A man in a maroon Boston College (BC) pullover stands indoors by a window, smiling, with empty stadium seats and a sports field visible in the background—a scene that truly embodies the Family First spirit at BC.

Family First, BC Always

With expectations rising and the landscape shifting, William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Blake James is leading BC Athletics with a focus on investment, opportunity, and long‑term strength. His vision highlights how support today can elevate every Eagle—and the University as a whole—for years to come.

A man in a "Boston College" hoodie stands on an indoor football field, smiling at the camera. Other people in maroon uniforms, representing BC Football, are visible in the background, capturing the lively spirit of being Back to BC.

“Back to BC Football”

General Manager Kenyatta Watson ’96 is laying the groundwork for players’ success—on the field and in life.

A person with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt and dark blazer, smiles in an office setting adorned with colorful art and certificates on the wall behind them, reflecting their dedication to compassion ministry.

Moved by Compassion

In this edition of Beacon Book Club, Meghan Sweeney shares Jesus Before Christianity.

Students sit in a classroom facing a teacher who speaks in front of a screen displaying an aerial landscape image. As if striking the match of curiosity, some students use laptops, while light reflects off the windows.

Striking the Match

The last five years have seen the most significant expansion of faculty support in Boston College history, and it’s all thanks to an anonymous couple’s creative approach to giving back.

An older man in a suit and red patterned tie smiles while sitting and holding a book, with bookshelves full of books in the background—a quiet moment that feels like a final act of gratitude for a lifetime surrounded by knowledge.

A Final Act of Gratitude

A gift of $125 million from the Patrick F. Cadigan Family Foundation will transform Carney Hall into a state-of-the-art facility—aptly renamed Cadigan Hall.

Aerial view of a large, historic university campus with steady Gothic-style stone buildings, green rooftops, trees, grassy lawns, and walkways on a sunny day—a beacon of tradition and learning.

Steady as a Beacon

Over three decades, philanthropy and leadership have fueled Boston College’s rise—expanding its impact, elevating its mission, and building extraordinary momentum. Take a look back at the milestones that brought BC to this moment and the opportunities that lie ahead.