The Catamount Tribune presented by Redstone Apartments and Lofts is an avenue for UVM student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, and fans to tell unique stories in their own words. This edition of the Catamount Tribune is written by UVM alum Peter Bernhardt '72, who has been involved with the University and the Athletics Department since 1968. Interested in sharing your story for the Catamount Tribune? Please click here or visit go.uvm.edu/tribune.
That great philosopher Ferris Bueller (aka Mathew Broderick) once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while you might miss it." Sage advice. For me, my 50 year relationship with UVM beginning as a forestry major in 1968 offered a host of connection points with the university in ways I could never foresee a half century ago and, consequently, I've been fortunate to not miss what's been happening at UVM. So thanks for the tip, Ferris.
I came to UVM via Williamsville, N.Y. which is just outside Buffalo (yes, I'm a Buffalo Bills fan still recovering from the infamous "wide right" Super Bowl call!). During my first year I played freshman soccer at UVM since NCAA rules then did not allow freshmen to play varsity level sports and went on to play varsity soccer for three years. Our team was the proud champions of the then Yankee Conference for two of those years.
Soccer was a different game back in the late 60's. We didn't train year-round and the skill and technical aspects weren't nearly as developed as today. So it's been really fun to see the level of play evolve over the years both at the youth level I witnessed coaching my three children and here at UVM watching the Catamounts play their way from the old mud-puddled Post Field to Centennial and back to UVM's original field location on Virtue Field turf.
Throughout that time period what's stayed the same is the strong heartbeat of the UVM soccer program. Our teams have continued to play with trademark Catamount "all-in" passion seasoned with Vermont's meat-and-potatoes flare.
Soccer (I could talk about it all day!) aside, a few years after receiving my forestry degree I went back to UVM to obtain a second degree this time in Civil Engineering. Go figure. A lifelong lover of logic, details and, as my kids joke, "engineerical statistics," (in my youth I could build some mighty awesome tree forts) the world of engineering and construction called me and set me on a most satisfying career path.
My professional career sprouted from a three-line Help Wanted ad in the Burlington Free Press for "Construction Estimator, Pizzagalli Construction. Apply within." It sounded intriguing. I applied, interviewed and received a call back for a second interview this time with Angelo Pizzagalli, the eldest of the company's three founding brothers. I knew I really had to understand what a Construction Estimator did. Since I had no formal construction background I visited the UVM Library and, using the Dewey Decimal system (I know I'm dating myself here back to the era of watching the Beatles live on the Ed Sullivan Show) pulled an all-nighter studying up about quantity take-off and production units. That cramming, along with my rudimentary building skills and education, helped convince Angelo to give me a shot. He did and I began my path into the world of construction which became my home and something I truly enjoy.
For nearly four decades I worked at Pizzagalli Construction Company doing estimating, scheduling, business development and project management work for construction projects up and down the eastern seaboard as well as parts west. I took on various assignments with the company culminating with my role as president for fifteen years until I retired in 2013.
One of my first projects in the early 80's was helping renovate the old "shoe box" dorms recently demolished a few years ago. Ironically, one of the rooms we renovated was my freshman 219 Wills dorm room. Talk about a poignant full circle! Over the years Pizzagalli built many projects on campus including Aiken, University Heights, and the Gutterson addition, to name a few and I played a role estimating/planning/building and/or overseeing those projects. Pretty neat and satisfying to break ground on the campus I'd walked years ago as a student.
Since then I've served on the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Board of Advisors, been part of the student mentorship program and currently helping with Athletics - additional intersection points which have all been stimulating and vastly rewarding.
More recently I've had the chance to volunteer behind the scenes with the Virtue Field project planning, design, estimating and construction. It's been fun again to estimate the cost of a building foundation. We're now we're pushing for the final support building piece of the stadium project. When completed this will make the complex one of the best in the northeast cementing it as a fan favorite venue with "real" rest rooms, concessions for players and officials and much needed game-day locker rooms.
If all that involvement wasn't gratifying enough, the crown jewel for me is the current opportunity to work with UVM's Facilities, Design + Construction group along with Athletics on the new Event Center (OCMC) project. After decades of discussion the prospect of a winter groundbreaking, pending final permitting and fundraising, is truly a dream come true for so many of us devoted UVM Athletic fans. Indeed "It's Time" – as the UVM Event Center mantra goes - to replace and re-purpose Patrick's old oversized-high school gym with additional space for health, wellness and recreation programs for all students. The beautiful, functional multipurpose event center will be home to UVM's basketball program plus provide a larger, more welcoming venue for other UVM functions as well as cultural and entertainment events. The Gut upgrades will be equally transformative as new team locker rooms, coaches' offices, larger concession areas and more restrooms (Yay! Shorter lines!), better seating and improved circulation concourses for the fans are all huge pluses. The bottom line: an athlete/fan experience in Catamount Country second to none!
For me, UVM provided a rich educational foundation not only in the classroom, but on the soccer field and within student life in general. The path has been one of life-learning, growing and weathering occasional bumps and bruises along the way. But always one of fulfillment, fun and the chance to breathe in what life has to offer. That's why it's been so rewarding to give back to UVM over the years whether in terms of time, as fan, as a construction advisor or in other forms of support.
I've found it a happy yet a slightly perplexing exercise to fill in the affiliation blank after my name when attendance signup sheets are passed around during OCMC planning meetings the last few years. It's hard to choose among all the titles I so value in my association with UVM: volunteer, advisor, former student athlete, fan, season ticket holder, interested community member, cost estimator, and builder. No matter the title I choose to fill in, my true calling will always be proud UVM alumnus.
Go Cats!
Peter Bernhardt '72
