by Adam Rabinowitz
Longtime football coach Peter Capodilupo was honored at the 30th annual Newton/Brookline Rotary Thanksgiving Football Luncheon, yesterday at the Brae Burn Country Club.
Capodilupo, who has coached football at North for 30 years, will be retiring at the end of this season, marking an end to his memorable career not just as a great coach, but as a great teacher.
The event was highlighted by speeches from mayor Setti Warren, superintendent David Fleishman, principal Jennifer Price, and athletic director Tom Giusti.
The event also included speeches from coaches and captains of North and Brookline football and cheerleading, who spoke of Capodilupo’s impact on them in the annual Brookline football game rivalry.
Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy capped off the luncheon.
After the event, Shaughnessy said that Capodilupo had a way with his actions and words that made all his players feel welcome. He expressed that he had all the aspects a football coach needed to be great.
“He treated everyone with kindness. He was always very generous and respectful. He was an educator, a teacher, as well as a respectful man. He kept his players’ best interests at heart. He mastered all of the traits of a great coach,” he said.
For all his excellence as a coach, Capodilupo was an accomplished teacher until his retirement in 2007. As a teacher, Capodilupo won the Meserve award in 1981.
Shaughnessy added that in his 30 years at North, Capodilupo left his mark all over the community.
“His family is so integrated into the community because they are community people. They made other families welcome, and treated them like family,” he said.