Sean Collier’s dad, hero Watertown cop speak at Fisher College

Fisher College to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Boston Marathon Bombings Special on-campus screening of Patriots Day to benefit Sean Collier Memorial Fund

Event to Feature NY Times Bestselling Authors Casey Sherman & Dave Wedge, Creative Minds Behind the Acclaimed Film and Special Guests Watertown Police Sergeant John McLellan (Ret.) & Joe Rogers (Sean Collier’s step-father)

(Boston, MA) – Fisher College is proud to announce it will host an exclusive screening of the acclaimed film Patriots Day to benefit the Sean Collier Memorial Fund on April 11, 2023, 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Hall, 116 Beacon Street, Boston. 

 A Reception will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Alumni Hall where Sgt. McLellan, Joe Rogers (Sean Collier’s step-father) and Sherman & Wedge will all be available for interviews.     

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Patriots Day chronicles the Boston Marathon Bombing tragedy of April 2013 and the manhunt for the terrorists responsible for the historic crime. The film was adapted from the book Boston Strong, written by New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling authors Casey Sherman & Dave Wedge.  

Sherman and Wedge will lead a panel discussion following the screening to share the process of  writing their bestselling book (with assistance from a team of Fisher College interns) and working on the movie, which was praised by the National Board of Review as one of the top 10 films of 2016.

Joining the panel discussion will be Watertown Police Sergeant John McClellan (Ret.), who engaged in a deadly firefight with the Boston Marathon bombers on April 19, 2013. Sgt. McClellan was among the responding police officers and firefighters awarded the Medal of Valor from the United States Justice Department for his courageous efforts that fatefulnight.   

“We are honored to share this important film with members of the Fisher College community,” said Fisher College President Steve Rich. “We are also thrilled to hear from Sgt. John McClellan, and authors Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge about writing their bestselling book and bringing this Boston story to the big screen.”

The event is free to students, faculty, and the public. Fisher College plans to make a donation during the event to support The Sean Collier Memorial Fund. https://officercolliermemorialfund.org. Collier was killed in the line of duty by the Boston Marathon Bombers on April 18, 2013.

“Sean Collier was a hero who dedicated his life to helping others, both in and out of uniform,” President Rich added. “We are proud to align Fisher College with such a worthy cause.”

In June of 2023, former Boston Marathon & Boston Athletic Association Executive Director Tom Grilk will serve as a Distinguished Commencement Speaker at its Commencement Ceremonies for its graduate program. Grilk served as Executive Director and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Boston Athletic Association | Boston Marathon (the B.A.A.) during the deadly bombing attacks at the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013. 

About Fisher College 

Founded in 1903, Fisher College is a private not-for-profit institution in Boston’s Back Bay offering over 30 different Bachelor and Graduate-level programs, both on campus and online, to introduce its students to a larger world of possibilities, knowledge, and expectations. Fisher has been changing lives by providing students with the tools they need to compete successfully in today’s challenging economy. The core offerings at Fisher reflect liberal arts, but the majors and graduate programs reflect an expertise in practical fields like management, accounting, fashion merchandising, criminal justice, biology, information technology, and cybersecurity, among more, including a cutting edge esports industry program. Educational resources include small group classrooms and meeting with industry and business leaders through internships, guest lectures, and site visits in Boston, a city rich in both history and culture and a center of intellectual ferment, entrepreneurship, and scientific advancement. For more information, visit www.fisher.edu