William J. Supple '77

Mr. Supple began his association with Catholic Memorial as an incoming freshman in 1973. He was an active member of the CM community during his student days, participating in numerous clubs and activities, plus a variety of intramural sports. Most notably, he was an award-winning member of the Debate Team, played on the Varsity Tennis team, had a lead role in the Drama production of “Camelot” and was elected President of the National Honor Society. He credits much of his future academic success to his outstanding teachers at CM, including Br. Michael Bennett, Mr. Vin Catano, Mr. Chris Jackson, Mr. Tom Meagher, Mr. Joe Perfetti, and Br. Sam Ryan. His CM class of 1977 was a large one, graduating nearly 325 seniors, a number of whom remain his closest friends today.

After graduating CM as the Valedictorian, Mr. Supple went on to attend the College of the Holy Cross, where he earned his A.B. in History, Cum Laude, in 1981. He later went on to earn his MBA in Finance from the Stern School of New York University in 1986.

In addition to his professional career, Mr. Supple has been drawn to volunteer roles in a variety of areas, particularly at Catholic educational institutions and in Public Service.

Service to Catholic Memorial has been a chief component. Currently Mr. Supple serves as a Member of the Sponsor Council for the Christian Brother’s Institute of Massachusetts. He served 9 years as a Board Member at CM, with his last 4 years as Board Chair. He is also a former and founding member of the Catholic Memorial Foundation and served on two Presidential Search Committees which resulted in the hiring of CM Presidents, Dr. Peter Folan and Mr. Paul Sheff ’62. He has been a loyal participant in his class of 1977 reunions as well.

Mr. Supple has also been a committed volunteer at Holy Cross. He has served as Co-Chair of his class since graduating in 1981 and has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Class Chair and several fundraising awards. Along with his wife, Mary, for 4 years he served as National Co-Chair of the Holy Cross President’s Council and on the Holy Cross Board’s Committee on Institutional Advancement. As an expression of respect and admiration for outstanding dedication and lengthy service to the College, in 2013 the Holy Cross Alumni Association awarded its greatest honor, the In Hoc Signo award, to Mr. Supple. He is currently serving as Chair of the In Hoc Signo Committee at Holy Cross.

Presently Mr. Supple is a Trustee for the Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and is a former Jesuit Finance Committee member for both the New England and USA Northeast provinces. In his home parish of St. Joseph in Needham, Mr. Supple served as a member of the Consultative Board for the Elementary School and on the Principal Search Committee for the Monsignor Haddad Middle School.

On the Public Service front, Mr. Supple has been involved with the Town of Needham, where he was born and raised, and where he and Mary raised their four children. He served several terms as an elected Town Meeting Member and was also elected Commissioner of Trust Funds, serving two terms as Chair. He was appointed a founding Trustee for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Health Care Security Trust, where he was involved in managing the proceeds of the Tobacco Settlement Funds.

Mr. Supple’s financial industry career spans 38 years. Presently, he is in his 19^th year with Boston Partners Global Investors, where he serves as their Head of Taft-Hartley and Public Funds. Prior to this, he was a Vice President at Mellon Institutional Asset Management, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Leveraged Finance and Fixed Income Groups at BankBoston, and began his career at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. He is a retired member of the Amalgamated Meatcutters and Butcher Workmen of North America (Local 2 AFL-CIO) and a former member of the Service Employers International Union (Local 254 – Fenway Park Ushers).

Mr. Supple has been happily married for over 32 years, and is immensely proud of his four children – Ned, Jack, Maddy and Will – as well as his 8 siblings and extended family.

Throughout his life, Mr. Supple has demonstrated a deep commitment to the service and welfare of others in his community and beyond. In his professional life he has exhibited a high level of achievement through hard work and an abiding commitment to integrity. The Catholic Memorial Community is honored and delighted to present him with the Vince in Bono Malum Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement and Outstanding Service to the Community.