FLEX TIME 8 6 T H A N N UA L FAT H E R - S O N D I N N E R
‘Enjoy the Moment’ By Mike Kennedy ’99
A
S A sophomore in high school, Pete Bevacqua ’89 entered the game in the
fourth quarter to loud and disparaging jeers from the crowd inside a jam-packed gymnasium at St. Mary’s — his former classmates chanting the Brunswick transfer’s nickname as he peeled himself off the end of the bench. He was a nervous wreck. But after knocking down two free throws, the point guard quickly found himself transformed — wanting the basketball in his hands and thriving amid the hostility and pressure of heated competition. Two years later, Bevacqua starred at quarterback for the Bruins — his team needing a win in a rain-soaked game against Fieldston to earn a spot in the FAA championship.
As a Bruin, Pete Bevacqua ’89 starred on the football, basketball, and golf teams, playing for the legendary gridiron coach and lifelong influence Bob Sampson (below).
Late in the first half and with a linebacker on his heels, Bevacqua
memories — of the good, the
rolled to his right and tried to
bad, and the ugly variety — as
draws on them in both
throw the ball through the end
the keynote speaker at the 86th
his professional and
zone to salvage another play.
Annual Father-Son Dinner, held on
personal life — whether
Thursday, March 10.
making decisions about
The pigskin slipped out of his hands, however, creating a Joe
“My memories from my time
To this day, Bevacqua
the Ryder Cup or about
Montana-to-Dwight Clark moment
at Brunswick haven’t eroded,”
the lessons he wishes
as Geoff Nichols ’89 swooped
he explained to the audience of
to instill in his three
across the end zone to snatch the
more than 600 fathers, sons, and
children.
fortuitous touchdown pass and
coaches — all on hand for one of
boost the Bruins to an eventual
the School’s oldest and most long-
looking back on moments of
14–0 victory.
standing traditions.
trophy-raising triumph — recalling
Bevacqua was the hero. Now the CEO of the PGA of
“They’ve become stronger.
And he’s not always
one specific instance on the
They’ve become more important.
gridiron when he stepped out of
America, Bevacqua relived a
And they’ve really defined who
bounds to avoid a head-on collision
handful of his Brunswick sports
I am.”
with an imposing opponent.
04 | TIMES
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OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2016
5/18/16 7:28 PM