PETE'S STORY

By Peter Vuono

  In September of 1973 when I stepped foot for the first time on the campus of Massasoit Community college, my attention was directed toward a young man who was brimming with charisma. Pete Murby of Raynham Mass. was born with severe cerebral palsy. It affected his arms. legs and speech. He gallantly got to class himself by pushing his wheelchair backwards with his one good leg.  The CP, however, did not affect his mind or his heart. I knew we'd become friends.

  Pete was always friendly, affable and convivial. He never once said anything negative about his disability or about other people. He was simply loved by all. After we became friends, we used to hang downstairs in the student union together. One day, I was working out on a universal machine and Pete asked me to show him the ropes.

  I sized up Pete's abilities and put him to work on the lat  machine. After about 3 or 4 sets Pete simply said with a bright smile, "I feel good"! That's all I needed in deciding to change my future major at Bridgewater State to Special Ed. Pete may have "felt good", but I got an incredible rush of accomplishment in helping someone after that very simple training session. He changed my life. After Bridgewater, I taught Special Ed. for a year in Pelham NH where I'd meet my future wife. I did a 34 year stint in the same discipline at Brockton High School. After retirement, I did 1.4 years of adapted Phys. Ed. at an elementary school and I've since spent the last ten years as a home teacher working with kids with a variety of needs.

  God knows I've made a miasma of mistakes that I'll always regret but I also had a lot of victories. It's Pete, however who deserves any accolade for these as it was he who was the prime catalyst in starting it all. God directed me through him.

  Pete spent the last year of his life in hospitals and rehab due to infections and later on cancer. When I visited him his attitude never changed. He was the same warm guy that I met in 1973; still inspiring guys like me to work through any adversity and teaching me to not let adversity get me down. He inspired to the end; never changing.

  Thanks to Presidents Ray DiPasquale and "Big" Bill Mitchell, a commemorative plaque was placed in the courtyard in Massasoit among the foliage there. It's right beside Pete's friend Professor Laura Yellen's plaque who refused bone marrow transplantation to give it to a younger person than she. Dozens walk by these plaques each day. Some never notice. Some look down and think nothing. I however look and see only a garden of inspiration  kindness and love. Thank you, Pete; I love you.

"The quality of life does not depend upon achievement. The quality of life depends upon love"- Pope Leo XIV