Pete Medhurst, a longtime broadcaster who earned the title of “Voice of Navy Athletics,” died Monday night after battling brain cancer. He was 55.
Mr. Medhurst’s death was confirmed Tuesday morning by his wife Brenda Medhurst.
“Last night we had to say Goodbye to Pete Medhurst,” she wrote via Facebook. “Pete fought a very hard battle against an aggressive melanoma cancer. He spent his final hours surrounded by the kids and I and he felt so much love. We are heartbroken and devastated. Thank you so much to everyone for their many months of thoughts and prayers for Pete and our family. We are very blessed to have such amazing family and friends. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. A Go Fund Me has been established if anyone would like to contribute Thank you and We Love You All.”
Since 1997, Mr. Medhurst had been part of the Navy Radio Network and was tasked with pre- and post-game and sideline duties during football games. He was also the play-by-play voice for men’s lacrosse and provided coverage for other sports.
In 2013, Mr. Medhurst was promoted to primary announcer for Navy football after predecessor Bob Socci left for the same position with the New England Patriots. In addition to football, Mr. Medhurst helmed play-by-play duties on the radio on men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s lacrosse and handled other varsity sports that aired on ESPN+.
All told, Mr. Medhurst broadcasted 240 consecutive Navy football games from either the sideline or the booth before missing a game at Rice on Nov. 2 to undergo an operation at Anne Arundel Medical Center the day before to remove a brain tumor. Mr. Medhurst underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatment to ward off other tumors.
Mr. Medhurst’s death generated a flood of tributes from those who worked with him and knew him.
RIP to a Navy legend. Not only was he a great broadcaster, but a friend, father and husband. He touched the lives of so many midshipmen in his 28 years with Navy Athletics. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/mJyGZyRHkr
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) January 21, 2025
“RIP to a Navy legend. Not only was he a great broadcaster, but a friend, father and husband. He touched the lives of so many midshipmen in his 28 years with Navy Athletics. You will be missed,” the department said via X.
“My heart breaks for Pete’s family, friends and all of those at Navy,” Orioles broadcaster Geoff Arnold wrote on X. “A great man who worked his butt off and always did it the right way. RIP.”
“The news of Pete Medhurst’s passing is a brutal reminder of what’s really important, our time on this planet, together,” WUSA9 sports broadcaster Chick Hernandez wrote. “Such a pro and kind man he was. Always with a nice word for you whenever we ran across each other. No one, and I mean no one worked/grinded harder. I will keep his family and friends in my thoughts. Rest in Paradise my friend.”
“I’m absolutely gutted,” ABC7 sports broadcaster Scott Abraham wrote. “We lost Pete Medhurst. I don’t have many words right now…amazing person and was so good on the radio/play by play.”
Mr. Medhurst’s death drew an homage from Navy’s archrival, Army.
“Army Athletics sends our condolences to Pete’s family, friends and Navy fans,” the Black Knights sports department wrote on X. “Pete was a great broadcaster who made a lasting impact on the Mids, Navy Athletics and Army-Navy, he will be missed.”
Mr. Medhurst grew up in Shady Side and graduated from Southern High in Harwood in 1987 after playing football and baseball there. A lifelong sports fan, he practiced his future calling by turning down the sound of the television and providing play-by-play calls of games while talking into a tape recorder.
Mr. Medhurst began his broadcasting career at WNAV 1430 AM in Annapolis. He then transitioned to a radio station in Pocomoke City and covered games at Salisbury University and high schools on the Eastern Shore.
Besides his duties at Navy, Mr. Medhurst also co-hosted a daily show on The Team 980 in Washington, D.C., and worked pre- and post-game shows for the Washington Nationals on WJFK-FM 106.7 in Washington, D.C., filling in as play-by-play announcer for the Nationals.
Pete, we will miss you. pic.twitter.com/RVfWPb6u4s
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 21, 2025
“We are heartbroken by the passing of our friend, Nationals radio broadcaster Pete Medhurst,” the Washington Nationals wrote. “Pete could always be counted on for a kind word and a smile. We will sorely miss seeing him around the ballpark and hearing his voice during Nationals broadcasts.”
For the past two seasons, Mr. Medhurst worked as a studio host for the Ravens Radio Network, providing his voice for pre- and post-game shows on WBAL 1090 AM and WIYY 98 Rock in Baltimore. He also called horse races at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Medhurst is survived by two sons, Ryan and Cody Joyce, and one daughter, Kelly Medhurst.
Ryan Joyce was a forward for the basketball team at Hood and an assistant coach at St. Mary’s and Seton Hill, while Cody Joyce was a forward at Houston Baptist and UMBC and an assistant coach at Washington College. Kelly Medhurst is a junior pitcher and third baseman at Southern High.
Information on services is not yet available.
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