Olympians, sportscasters, former pro athletes, coaches — the Father-Son Dinner has long featured elite speakers of the very highest caliber.  

This year, the speaker was a powerhouse in his own right — and also a Brunswick alumnus who once sat at this dinner alongside his own father.

Peter Bevacqua ’89, the former CEO of the PGA of America and the former chairman of NBC Sports who now serves as University Vice President & James E. Rohr Director of Athletics at University of Notre Dame, returned to Edwards Campus to recognize the school’s current cohort of successful student athletes and continue the enduring tradition that is the Father-Son Dinner. 

Brunswick’s first Father-Son Dinner took place in 1934. The storied, long-standing tradition marked its 92nd anniversary in early March with a gathering of more than 700 at Burke Field House.

Ron VanBelle, director of Upper School athletics, helped welcome the crowd. 

“Traditions can wan or die over time,” he said. “I’m confident the concept of fathers and sons sharing a meal in the context of sports will be one that survives the test of time.”

Bevacqua, a former Brunswick trustee, used his time at the podium to share his thoughts about how his early experiences on Maher Avenue shaped his life and career.

He came to Brunswick as a sophomore and by the time he graduated, his achievements were many. He served as class president, quarterback, valedictorian, and was a tri-varsity athlete with nine varsity letters.

Bevacqua told the crowd that Brunswick offered three important lessons that have guided him throughout his life and career: kindness, “testing himself,” and passion.

“The kindness of Brunswick struck me right away,” he said. “I felt it almost immediately. And I felt it every moment of every day of my time at Brunswick.

 “The other was really learning how to test myself, push myself, and quite frankly, to believe in myself,” he said.

Bevacqua also said he always remembers the message offered at his Commencement ceremony, when a camp director from Maine served as speaker and told the Class of 1989 to follow their hearts. 

“I remember it again like it just happened,” he said. “He said if you can find something to do in your life that you're passionate about, life is going to be a lot more enjoyable.”

It was guidance that echoed the advice of his own father, time and again.  

“My father would preach that you have to be passionate about what you do,” Bevacqua said. 

Head of School Tom Philip also welcomed the crowd and took the time to highlight the ongoing success of Brunswick athletics and to celebrate the many accomplishments of teams during the 2024-25 year.

“There are many things that are special about Brunswick,” Philip said. “This evening is absolutely one of them.”

Aidan Diaz-Matos ’25, a two-sport varsity captain and a Vermont leader, served as student speaker. He used his speech to celebrate the role models in his life, both at home and at school.

“My father has always been my role model, whether it be coaching, tackling different problems, offering advice, or showing what it means to work hard and stay disciplined and be a good person,” he said.

Mentors and role models at Brunswick, including coaches and teachers, have multiplied the impact.

 “They challenge us because they believe in us,” Diaz-Matos said. “Just look around. The young men at Brunswick are in good hands. From the fathers at home to the mentors we encounter at school, we are surrounded by people who care deeply about the men we are becoming. That is a gift that will stay with us long after we leave Brunswick.”