Edward A. Fish, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of The EA Fish Companies, died at his home in Weston, MA on June 15. He was 77.
Born to Joseph N. and Evelyn Fish in 1933, Mr. Fish was raised in St. Brendan’s Parish in Dorchester, and attended St. John’s Prep in Danvers. Mr. Fish was a veteran, having served as a corporal in the US Army.
Edward A. Fish was a proud member of the University of New Hampshire community where he graduated magna cum laude in 1958. At UNH he realized his lifelong dream to play college football. Throughout the rest of his life he remained a staunch advocate for the integration of sports, academics and ethics for all students, to foster teamwork and a commitment to excellence.
After graduation, Mr. Fish joined his own father’s construction business where he learned valuable lessons in hard work, commitment of purpose and integrity.
Over the next 40 years through an extraordinary combination of vision, personal drive and a dedication to doing good while doing well, Mr. Fish built a successful professional real estate organization. The EA Fish Companies, EA Fish Development, Dellbrook Construction and Peabody Properties became well known in the real estate industry for dedication to the successful development, construction and management of high quality residential and commercial properties. Ed and the EA Fish Companies had a particular commitment to the creation of affordable housing that has truly made a difference in the lives of countless individuals and families throughout New England, the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States.
In addition to his professional contributions, Mr. Fish has devoted himself to extraordinary philanthropic service. Edward Fish was a 25 year supporter of the Blessed John Seminary for Delayed Vocations in Weston - a cause that remained very dear to his heart.
Mr. Fish was a founding member of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Trust Board. Mr. Fish and his wife Gretchen generously invested their time, money and leadership to BWH endeavors for more than 20 years. Gretchen has also been a Trustee since 2002. In October of 2005 Brigham and Women’s Hospital celebrated Edward and Gretchen Fish and their exceptional contribution to BWH by presenting them with the coveted Heritage Society Award.
Mr. and Mrs. Fish also supported the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology, the Integrated Learning Lab at the Gretchen S. and Edward A. Fish Center for Women’s Health Department of Orthopedic Surgery, which supports the program Operation Walk, offering free surgical treatment for patients in the Dominican Republic. The Edward and Gretchen Fish Resident in Global Health Equity is a program that supports one resident each year over a six-year span to complete specialized education and training in internal medicine, public policy, health advocacy and epidemiology, together with fieldwork in impoverished communities.
Additionally, Mr. Fish has been a long-time University of New Hampshire benefactor. Among his contributions was gift in 2007 for a new artificial playing surface, and the creation of the Edward A. Fish ’58 Endowed Football Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1999 to provide scholarship awards to student athletes on the UNH Football team. Mr. Fish further demonstrated his leadership in establishing The First 500 UNH Football Endowed Athletic Fund which commemorated the program’s 500th victory in 2008.
In 2008, Mr. Fish received the University’s Hubbard Family Award for Service to Philanthropy, the highest honor awarded by the UNH Foundation. Mr. Fish also served on the 2008-2009 President’s Panel on Intercollegiate Athletics. In the fall of 2009, he was elected to the UNH Foundation Board of Directors where he served on the Committee on Philanthropy. He was a force on the Foundation Board, and was preparing to lead an initiative to renovate the football stadium.
Mr. Fish was the recipient of several professional accolades that include the 2008 Greater Boston Real Estate Finance Association’s Robert S. Swayne, Jr. Distinguished Service Award and the 2001 Rental Housing Association Lifetime Achievement award for the combined positive impact of the EA Fish Companies on the housing industry.
In his leisure time, Mr. Fish enjoyed fishing and golf, especially in the company of his family and close friends.
Edward Fish’s most significant accomplishment was his steadfast commitment and love for his family. He was deeply devoted to his wife of 29-years, Gretchen, with whom he shared his commitment to BWH, his seven children; Karen Fish-Will and her husband Francis of Marion, Edward A. Fish, Jr. and his wife Ellen of Weston, John F. Fish and his wife Cynthia of Milton, Kevin B. Fish of Boston, Melissa Fish-Crane and her husband Kenneth of Weston, Matthew W. Mittelstadt and his wife Ann of Weston, Michael W. Fish and his fiancé Elizabeth Krupp of Boston, and his thirteen grandchildren; Kathleen Van Dernoot, Ronald, Kevin and Rose Will; Edward Fish 3rd, Christina, Jennifer and Caroline Fish; Kaeleen Price, Nicholas Price and Connor Crane; Zachary and Andrew Mittelstadt.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., WELLESLEY, Saturday, June 19, at 10 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Julia’s Church, Weston Center, at 11 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Friday 3-8 PM. Interment Linwood Cemetery, Weston. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in his memory to either the Edward A. Fish, Sr. Memorial Fund, c/o Brigham and Women’s Hospital with checks sent to 116 Huntington Avenue, 5th floor Boston, MA 02116 Attn: Jim Asp, or to the Edward A. Fish Endowed Football Scholarship Fund, c/o The University of New Hampshire Foundation, Inc. Elliott Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824-1934.