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In This Issue:
Edward A. Fish, Sr., BWH Benefactor, Former Trustee
For more than two decades, Edward A. Fish’s generosity and support of BWH have paved the way for advances in surgery and helping the hospital expand its reach to patients in need. Mr. Fish, a founding member of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Trust Board, passed away June 15. He was 77.
“Ed truly understood that the world is a smaller place than it seems, and change is possible through the efforts of a few visionary thinkers,” said BWH President Betsy Nabel, MD. “We will miss Ed and remember him fondly.”
Mr. Fish and his wife, Gretchen, who is a member of the BWH Board of Trustees, have supported the hospital for more than 20 years. Their generosity made possible the creation of the Gretchen S. and Edward A. Fish Center for Women’s Health. They also have made meaningful gifts to advance surgery and medical education. Their generosity extends beyond hospital walls—their most recent gift provides for the transportation of physicians, volunteers and medical supplies to the Dominican Republic for the BWH-led Operation Walk program.
“Ed touched so many lives through his generous philanthropy,” Nabel said. “He and Gretchen have contributed greatly to the ability of BWH to improve health care for generations to come.”
BWH celebrated the Fishes’ contributions in 2005 by honoring them with the prestigious Heritage Society Award.
Mr. Fish, who lived in Weston, was the founder, chairman and CEO of The EA Fish Companies, which became well known in the real estate industry for its successful development, construction and management of high quality residential and commercial properties.
In addition to his wife, Gretchen, he is survived by seven children, Karen Fish-Will and her husband Francis; Edward A. Fish, Jr. and his wife Ellen; John F. Fish and his wife Cynthia; Kevin B. Fish; Melissa Fish-Crane and her husband Kenneth; Matthew W. Mittelstadt and his wife Ann; Michael W. Fish and his fiancée Elizabeth Krupp; and 13 grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Julia’s Church in Weston, followed by interment at Linwood Cemetery in Weston. Memorial gifts may be made to the Edward A. Fish, Sr. Memorial Fund, c/o BWH, 116 Huntington Ave., 5th floor, Boston, MA 02116. Attn: Jim Asp.