Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 7, 2020 “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday”... It’s a Small World After All! By Peter F. Levine F acebook may have its many flaws but posts like this make it all worthwhile: “It's a Small World After All!” “My name is Rick Thibert and I was Malden High Class of 1990. I tell this story quite often, but never with the family that should have heard it.... so please bear with me. “In 1993 I was part of a US Special Operations Contingency based in San Vito, Italy. We flew daily missions in our Pavelow Helicopters in and out of Bosnia and Croatia during the Balkan War for several years. In our off time we had little to nothing in terms of services available to us. After a year or so they opened a shop on our base to sell basics to us. A little later they even opened a gym and a barber shop. Maybe another year later they opened a gift shop selling us all sorts of tourist type of Italian souvenirs etc. “With this being said, I have painted the picture for my story. Here goes: Upon leaving the gym one morning I decided to pay a visit to the gift shop. I was in shorts and a T-Shirt. The man behind the counter said to me in his strong Italian accent, but in perfect English (sounded much like someone from the Godfather) ‘aren’t you cold dressed like that?’ I said no and chuckled. He said, ‘you must be from a cold state’. I said yeah, kind of! He asked me where and I told him Massachusetts. His face kind of lit up and he said, ‘where about in Massachusetts?’ I said a city just North of Boston, Malden. He said, ‘I know Malden very well!’ At this point I’m thinking, this guy is pulling my leg! He asked me if I attended Malden High School and I said yes! Again, his face lit up again!! He asked me who I had for history lessons! I told him Mr Collozi. He said ‘Peter Collozi???’ with a (expletive deleted) eating grin on his face...... and I said yes with and OMG expression on my face! “He said, ‘I’m Raymond Collozi’, I’m Peter’s brother!!!’ I couldn’t believe it! We talked about Mr. C and how I also went to school with his daughter (a year or two under me, not sure I really knew her). His Niece of course! How magical a moment we both had. “Imagine deploying to a war in a foreign country to meet your history teacher’s brother!!!?? I’d be grateful if someone could share my story with the Collozi family! Rick Thibert 1990” Thank you so much Rick for your service to our country and this story. A few thoughts on a frigid midwinter Malden morning... • Congresswoman Katherine Clark – straight out of Melrose – just killing it during these historic times! • Must see show at the Regent Theater in Arlington: Ted Neeley (of “Jesus Christ Superstar” fame) and Yvonne Elliman! One night only (according to the advert I read) backed up by the Ultrasonic Rock Band. • Congratulations go out to one of the City of Malden's newest employees, the hardest working man in show biz (formerly of the U.S.P.S., so you know what I mean), Jimmy Tucker! • Thank you for the kind words about my column, (the lovely) Susan Shaw. Susan is originally a North End girl but hit the lottery when she met her dashing hubby Ray Mahoney and moved to Malden, some 30 years ago. Okay, I was joking, it was actually Ray who hit the lottery! Don’t ever forget this amazing quote from the Chairman of The Board Frank Sinatra: “Rock ‘n Roll: the most brutal, ugly, desperate, vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear.” Which brings me to my favorite Ted story from long ago and not so far away. “Jesus Christ Superstar” came roaring into town back on Jan. 13, 1996, with original “Jesus,” Ted Neeley, back doing what he was put on earth to do, play the Lord and Savior in the Broadway musical. After the show a group of us went out with Ted to (I believe) an Asian restaurant on Rte. 1 for a plate of beef and onions with black bean sauce with white rice (well, that’s what I had anyway). There were nine of us. We were trying to arrange seating. Ted came up with the most logical suggestion, and I quote: “boy, girl, boy, girl, Jesus, boy, girl, boy girl.” Long Live Ted Neeley! Pop/punk and rock trailblazers “Boy’s Life” were mere children when they burst out of lead singer/guitarist/lyricist John Surette’s garage on Presley Street in the late 1970’s and took the Boston music scene by storm! They had a busy December back in 1980: • 12/4 The Bradford Ballroom with The Neighborhoods & Kid Creole • 12/6 Wellesley College • 12/12 Malden Catholic High School • 12/13 The Rat with Shrapnel & The Proof • 12/16 The Rat with The Out“Boy, girl, Jesus, boy, girl...” left to right: Mark Cherone, Tracy Glynn, Ted Neeley, Gary and Mike Cherone, Peter Levine, Kelley Glynn and Al and Barbara Glynn. (Courtesy Photo) lets, LaPeste & Tennie Komar • 12/19 Cantones with LaPeste (owner Mario Cantone played b-ball with us at the Y back in the day) • 12/20 Cantones with LaPeste • 12/30 The Underground w/ The Upstarts Fast forward two years – May 21,1982 – Boy’s Life are hitting their stride as songwriters, players and performers on a Boston music scene saturated with some of the best talent in the whole country. Boy’s Life realizes a teenage punk rocker dream and opens for the mighty Jam at the Orpheum. One of the best and most knowledgeable critics of the day (still writing in 2020 by the way), Jim Sullivan had this to say about Malden’s best and brightest the next day in the Globe: “Boy’s Life opened with a confident, spunky set. They sometimes paint lines too broadly, but they’ve got a winning, energetic sneer and they’re acquiring more and more depth as players.” “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” remembers Malden’s forgotten Hollywood movie starlet/glamour girl Betty Lou Keim on the 10th anniversary of her passing, January 27, 2010. Betty Lou played Frank Sinatra’s out-of-control niece in the film “Some Came Running” – retiring in 1960 to raise her four children. Born in Malden in 1938, Betty Lou was living in Chatsworth, Calif., at the time of her death. She married Warren Berlinger in 1959 and retired from show biz to raise a family shortly after the nuptials. For a short while Betty Lou was a major player in Tinsel Town, in my opinion no marginally talented “B” actress! She starred alongside Frank Sinatra, Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Ginger Rogers and Patricia Neal (all Hollywood heavyweights!). She is survived by her children Lisa, David, Edward and Elizabeth. We won’t forget you, Betty Lou! “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” remembers longtime Edgeworth character and sweet neighborhood kid Jimmy Burggren. “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” remembers Tony Conserva’s son Jake. Although a Stoneham kid, Jake had serious Malden roots. “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” remembers James Damiano – longtime of Malden Street, Devir Park and the Italian American Citizens Club and no stranger to a friendly game of chance (more on Jimmy soon). “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” remembers a “Son of Edgeworth,” Kevin Reardon – Dan and Alison’s beloved boy (more on Kevin soon). “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” remembers Vietnam War vet Bobby Santilli’s uncle, stone cold Malden guy and a friend of mine–- David Hopkins (U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division) – more on “Hoppy” soon. “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end...” On the 8th anniversary of his passing, “Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday...” takes a moment to keep Dom DiGiammarino in our thoughts and to reflect on the legacy of the DiGiammarino brothers, “Ward Two’s First Family of Football,” as they were referred to. This legendary family grew up in the heart of Ward 2 – Russell Street – and produced five boys that would go on to excel at Malden High School in football, baseball, track and academics. Dom, Frank, Johnny, Larry and Bobby were all outstanding gridiron players with three of the brothers pulling double duty as baseball stars. Larry was named to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team in Baseball and Football and went on to play in the backfield for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He also hit a grand slam off future MLB star and future Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette when Monbo played at Medford High. He also hit another grannie off him as a member of the Malden City Club. Monbo was playing for the Everett Redbirds in the Suburban Twi-League at the time. All the brothers went on to become educators and give back gig time to their communities. Dom “Lightning” DiGiammarino excelled at track as well as football at MHS, participated in both World War II (at age 17) and the Korean Conflict, for 20 years ran the “Crystal Driving School” in Wakefield, coached football and baseball at Wakefield High School, was a biology and science teacher at WHS and later became the Department Head of Special Needs students at WHS. Dom and his lovely wife, Doris, were married for 65 years and raised three wonderful children. They just do not make them like the DiGiammarinos any longer.
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