In Memoriam: Pete Frates

Former Boston College baseball captain Pete Frates ’07, whose heroic battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was the inspiration for the Ice Bucket Challenge that helped raise more than $220 million for ALS research, died December 9 at his home in Beverly, Massachusetts. He was thirty-four.

“There is no one that embodied the spirit of Boston College more than Pete Frates,” said Martin Jarmond, BC’s William V. Campbell Director of Athletics. “He was a special person who led his life to the fullest, and I am just glad I had the honor of spending time with him.”

Frates’s many accomplishments both on and off the field (including setting the modern Eagles record with eight RBIs in a game) helped establish his legacy throughout Boston. Last year, Mayor Marty Walsh WCAS ’09 declared September 5 “Pete Frates Day,” and Phase II of BC’s Harrington Athletics Village—a thirty-one-thousand-square-foot indoor baseball and softball facility—will be named the Pete Frates Center.

But Frates’s outsize influence and impact reach well beyond the Heights. In announcing his death, the Frates family—which includes several BC alumni—described him as an inspiration to people around the world who drew strength from his courage and resilience: “A natural born leader and the ultimate teammate, Pete was a role model for all, especially young athletes, who looked up to him for his bravery and unwavering positive spirit in the face of adversity,” the family wrote. “He was a noble fighter who inspired us all to use our talents and strengths in the service of others…. We ask that you celebrate Pete and the hope that he has given to so many by following his daily affirmation: Be passionate, be genuine, be hard working, and don’t ever be afraid to be great.” ◽