Tricia Bergeron’s family has a long history of leading the Portuguese American (P.A.) Club, so it only seemed right to her that she would follow in her relatives’ footsteps as a preserver of Portuguese culture on the Island.
A lifelong Vineyarder, Ms. Bergeron joined the club’s board in 1975, served as its president for 22 years and organized countless feasts and celebrations to honor the Vineyard’s Portuguese community.
On Tuesday, Ms. Bergeron’s service and commitment to Portuguese Americans was celebrated at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. There, she was one of 18 honorees across the state presented with the 2023 Heritage Day of Portugal award.
“It was pretty cool to be there in the House of Representatives chambers,” she said this week. “We had so many senators and reps there. I was very honored and very humbled.”
Ms. Bergeron was nominated for the award by state Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who met her after becoming a member of the P.A. Club in 2016.
“Some of my first campaign events were at the P.A. Club when I first ran for office,” he said.
Mr. Fernandes’ grandparents were immigrants from the Azores region of Portugal who settled in Falmouth. He said that Ms. Bergeron’s contributions to the P.A. Club keep Portuguese traditions alive and the Island’s community close together.
“[The P.A. Club] is really the hub of the local community on the Vineyard,” he said. “It’s an inviting and welcoming place for everyone and I think that’s a really cool and important part of the Island.”
Connecting and supporting Islanders of all backgrounds is just an inherent part of Portuguese culture, Ms. Bergeron said. She is most inspired by her grandfather, who co-founded the club in the 1930s, and her two aunts, who served on the board.
“I’ve followed a great line of Portuguese women who have been strong and shown me a lot,” she said. “It really is a Portuguese way to help and give back to your community.”
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