Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 13, 2026 ~ Malden Musings ~ Introducing Malden Police Department’s Sergeant Sal Gennetti! By Peter Levine F rom this day forward, it’s Sergeant Sal Gennetti! Don’t call him Sergeant Schultz!! We’ll say it loud and we’ll say it proud! Sergeant Sal! You could feel his pop Butchie’s spirit filling the room as Sal’s friends, family, paisans, and fellow officers looked on during a long-awaited, wellearned ceremony. Generations of pride, all standing at attention. Sorry I couldn’t make it, Sal — Ernie had me handcuffed to my desk (no Miranda rights either). I hear the after-party for Sal was something special also. Word on the street it was akin to Tony Soprano, Paulie Walnuts, and Big Pussy throwing down in the squad room on the NYPD Blue set. An Edgeworth style celebration! Congratulations, Sergeant. You done good, my friend. More on Sal at a later date or as soon I can think of more good stuff to say about him. Insert smiley face. Sal was a “son of a Butch” - or rather, he was Butch’s son. Butch was the legend and although Sal Junior is well on his way to his own legacy, his dad’s fame and fortune are always hovering nearby. With that said, Sal’s eulogy at his beloved father’s funeral was stuff of legend. Here I paraphrase a bit to showcase what this young man is made of: “Being Butch’s only son, or, as some of my loving coworkers like to remind me, “a son of a Butch,” I had a front-row seat to one of the greatest shows ever to come out of the great city of Malden. And I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Butchie was the kind of dad every kid hopes for. The best kind! Everything I love and everything I value, I learned by walking alongside him. He took me everywhere. He showed me how things were done, how people were treated, and how you carried yourself in this town. He unlocked doors, some real, some figurative, and introduced me to everyone, always with pride in his voice. He believed in me, even during those times when I gave him every reason not to. Especially then. The highest honor of my life came the day Salvatore “Butch” Gen8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! netti pinned a Malden Police badge on my chest. In that moment, it wasn’t just a badge, it was history, trust, love, and a lifetime of lessons passed from father to son. Malden remembers Butchie. And I carry him with me every single day.” Congratulations once again, my friend! Well-deserved and I know pops is looking down proud as a purple peacock! It is said in Malden Musings… • In the why can’t we get players like her department I bring to you... good golly, Miss Molly! Former Maldonians Elena & Bobby Ryan’s daughter Aliana outplayed me for my whole career (in one game) scoring 20 points with five assists and 5 steals in a recent Peabody High School victory over the Masconomet Chieftains, 68-40. The Tanners senior point guard is a chip off the old block as moms was a standout softball player in high school and pops played hockey at MHS with stops at UConn and Merrimack. Best of luck in the future Aliana - I hope to catch one of your games soon with brother Joe. • Also, her uncle is Malwww.810bargrille.com den Parking Department’s Whiz Kid and former football standout at AC and Saint A’s, Ernie “Ernie’s Son” Ardolino. That is some really good genes! • Malden City Hall took another huge hit last month when Joanne “The Queen of Excise Tax” Settemio called it quits and rode off into retirement sunset. Her goal: to spend even more quality time with her Hollywood handsome inamorato Henry and adorable son Christian (think Wally Cleaver meets Opie Taylor)! On January 15th - after 26 years - Joanne’s colleagues in the Assessor’s Office threw a going away shindig for her the likes of which have not been seen around these parts possibly since Retirement Director Kevin “Big Mo” Morrison’s farewell gathering a couple years back! Mayor Gary even used the finest piece of paper available and presented a wonderful citation to Joanne in honor of her blood, sweat, and tears over these many years. Much like General Douglas MacArthur’s faSergeant Sal Gennetti with his still beautiful mom, Peg mous quote in WW2 “I shall return” - upon departure Joanne uttered these now to be famous words...”I’ll be seeing everyone around! This Edgeworth girl is still a Malden girl at heart!” Love it Joanne and we love you! Congratulations my friend!! • Has it REALLY been 35 years since Emerald Street’s John Bionelli started working for the best American rock n roll band ever, Aerosmith?! Seems like yesterday I wrote about Johnny B celebrating his 30th year working with the Toxic Twins and remaining (somewhat) sane of mind! That’s a joke, son. John is in my Human Being Hall of Fame, the Emerson Schoolyard Hall of Fame, the Immaculate Conception Street Hockey Hall of Fame, and (hopefully soon) in the Malden High School Alumni Hall of Fame! From schlepping Marshall amps as a pre-pubescent 13-year-old for Malden based garage/punk rockers Boy’s Life to Road Managing/babysitting America’s greatest export to the world of music, the mighty Aerosmith - John, you done real good and we’re proud of you. Fingers crossed on this year’s Alumni HOF nomination. • Oh, did I also mention he also works with an ex-Beatle you may have heard of, one Richard Starkey aka Ringo Starr. • Great googly moogly! For months now, I’ve been meaning to properly thank Malden Musings’ number one fan, Sharon Malatesta Neal, for her unwavering support of this column. Truth be told, when someone like Sharon takes the time to read, enjoy, and appreciate these musings, it makes the whole thing feel worthwhile. This little column is my modest contribution to the city that raised me — written in the spirit of community, friendship, and that old-fashioned golden rule we all grew up with - treat people the way you’d want to be treated. It’s my way of trying to put a little good back out onto the streets of Malden. Knowing that Sharon gets that, and enjoys it, means more than I can say. From one Malden heart to another — thank you, Sharon. • Did I mention that Sharon’s son Brian has been a proud member of the USAF for ten years now? How bout that!? Let’s give Brian a big round of applause for his service. • The awards keep piling up! You can now call Malden High School sophomore gridiron sensation Jayden McGuffie “All Scholastic” as the Boston Sunday Herald did in last week’s paper. Congrats young man! • Just for the record, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jayden a couple of times, and I can honestly say he’s a fine young man with a bright future ahead of him, no matter which path he chooses. Congratulations again, Jayden — keep up the great work. Malden is truly proud of you. MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 11
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