Brock Mario Papetsas

and grew up at 70 Commercial Street with his mother, Patricia, and younger brother, Thadd, in the West End of town. Growing up in a single parent household, Brock was the man of the house at a young age. While his brother, Thadd, studied his books upstairs, Brock, an avid weightlifter and exercise guru, spent hours downstairs preparing his body for sports before fitness became fashionable.

Brock graduated from Provincetown High School in 1970, popular with his peers and teachers alike and class president for all four years

of his attendance. Brock’s exploits as a Cape All Star athlete were well known by his contemporaries up and down the Cape and Islands, and he was Captain and All Star in football, basketball, and track during his high school career. One of his proudest athletic accomplishments was when he led the PHS football team to a Mayflower League Championship beating arch rival, Nantucket twice, in that 1969 championship season . That season marked the best record in the history of Provincetown football. Brock was a true hometown hero and always spoke adoringly of former teammates and fellow classmates from PHS.

Many hours of playing pickup basketball in his “backyard” at the West End basketball court against rival East Enders as a young adult paid off when Brock was selected by legendary Nauset Regional basketball coach, Leo Miller, to be a European ambassador for the Cape All Star team and played in Russia and all over Europe to promote the game of basketball. A bit shy of 6’1”, Brock was voted best center at Hall of Famer Celtic Bill Russell and Red Auerbach’s basketball Camp Millbrook on the Cape.

Brock attended Tampa University with the intention of continuing his football career but opted for fun instead and eventually returned to Provincetown to work with brothers FJ and Crayne as a licensed plumber for Frank Hurst Plumbing. He plumbed many homes for Papetsas Building Company and helped his brother, Thadd, with the building construction aspects as well. He was an excellent tradesman, taking pride in his work, and helped train his nephew, Dimitri, in his building exploits, teaching him the meaning of a good work ethic.

Brock traveled extensively around the country and visited most of the major cities in Europe as an athlete and as an adult, but no matter how long or how far he went, his heart was always in Provincetown. He spent many years in California before returning home to care for his mother, Patricia, in her final years. Everyone loved Brock, and he shared his kindness and charmth with whomever he encountered, a character trait he learned from his father, Jack. Much like Frank Hurst, he always had a silly joke to tell and loved playing the lottery. Brock was generous with his friends and acquaintances, always with a compliment or a “darling” to share. He lived life to its fullest, danced and sang, giftedly played his guitar, and enjoyed a “good party,” as he called it. He studied the Bible extensively, and was always the one to say the prayer before every holiday meal.

Brock was family oriented and loved all his many cousins. He was particularly close with the Hurst brothers and Halcyone Hurst Tasha, their families growing up together, and his Uncle Robert Cabral and the rest of the Cabral family were always attentive to Brock’s needs. He adored his niece, Julianne and nephew Dimitri and was extremely proud of all their accomplishments, happily quizzing

Julianne on her knowledge of scripture. He especially loved Julianne’s artwork and writings and displayed them proudly. He was extremely proud of his sister-in-law Julie and his brother Thadd with whom he had an unbreakable bond, two brothers who had looked to each other their entire lives.

Brock was predeceased by his mother Patricia Cabral Papetsas and his father Jack Papetsas. He is survived by his brother Thadd, sister-in-law Julie, niece Julianne, and nephew Dimitri and his wife Nathaly. Brock is also survived by his sister Halcyone H. Tasha and brother Crayne Hurst and predeceased brother FJ Hurst. He had a special place in his heart for his sister Melanie and his many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Brock will be laid to rest privately at St Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, and a Memorial Mass will be planned for the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brock’s name to any organization that helps in the prevention of alcohol or drug addictions.