John L. Tishman was born on January 24, 1926, in New York City and died on February 6, 2016.

He was an American real-estate developer and chief executive officer of Tishman Realty & Construction.

His parents were Jewish, Rose and Louis Tishman.

John’s father worked in the family construction business founded by his grandfather Julius Tishman and died when he was 4.

Tishman graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied electrical engineering, in 1946.

After he received his education, John served in the United States Navy and then taught mathematics before joining the family construction business, Tishman Realty & Construction, then run by his uncle David Tishman (father of Robert Tishman, the co-founder of Tishman Speyer Properties).

In that period, the firm acted as both a developer and general contractor until 1980, when it became solely a construction firm.

John was manager during the construction of Madison Square Garden, the John Hancock Center, and the first World Trade Center.

John L. Tishman established the Tishman Construction Management Program, at the University of Michigan, with a $5 million gift.

John L. Tishman supported the New School, with a $1 million gift.

In 1953, Suzanne Weisberg became his wife (she died in 2005); they had two children, Daniel Russell Tishman and Katherine Tishman Blacklock.

John L. Tishman son Dan was chairman and CEO of the family company renamed the Tishman Construction Corporation.

John L. Tishman passed away at 90 yrs old.