Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 26, 2021 Malden Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday – Remembering Ed Larson By Peter F. Levine W ith the free-for-all going on for the Council seat over in Ward 6, Kevin Larson gave some serious thought about whether to run or not. If you do not believe me, just ask him. Kevin is a longtime Malden resident. Kevin’s not shy and has been known to express his opinion from time to time. Again, if you do not believe me...just ask him. With such an important decision to be made, he asked himself “What would Eddie do?” Eddie being his big brother who passed away in 2014. Kevin has opted out! Turns out Eddie would say, “Are you crazy, Kevin!?” People stop me on the street constantly, look me straight in the eye and ask “When the heck are you going to give Kevin Larson 20 questions for your column?!” I knew Kevin was popular. I knew he wrote very interesting “Letters to the Editor.” And I knew he was besties with Governor Charlie Baker. But little did I know of this groundswell of popularity throughout Malden. From coast to coast, ward to ward and without further ado enquiring minds wanted to know: 1. My full name is...Kevin M. Larson. 2. I am currently...58 years old. 3. I am saving up for...retirement. 4. My home is in...our beloved city of Malden. 5. I love people who...are happy and genuine. 6. Something I say a lot is...“God bless, be safe.” 7. I consider myself to be...independent and an underdog. 8. I need to have...nothing, I am quite content. 9. My favorite movie of all time is...“The Verdict” (Paul Newman), he never gave up! 10. My all-time role model is...my mother and father, my J& $45 yd. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. MULCH SALE! Discount Spring Special PICK-UP or DELIVERY AVAILABLE 617-389-1490 Premium Hemlock or Pitch Black BELOW WHOLESALE COSTS LANDSCAPERS WELCOME $4 yd. $40 yd. $3 yd. Film icon Jimmy Stewart (Photo Courtesy of Kevin Larson) late brother Eddie, and my grandfather. 11. I respect people who... admit when they messed up. 12. The best thing anyone has ever said to me is...“don’t talk about it, DO IT!” 13. I am happy when... I’m with my family up on Lake Winnipesaukee. 14. I fi nd Lenny Clarke funny/hilarious. 15. I am named after… I’m unique; no other person was named Kevin in my family (good Irish name though). 16. I have two wonderful kids...Brian and Christopher. 17. The farthest I’ve ever been from home is...New Zealand, Australia. 18. My special talents are... coaching hockey and cooking. 19. I have one pet...Miss Molly, whom I adore. 20. I played sports as a youngster at Devir Park… where else! The greatest park in Massachusetts! It is said in Malden today, tomorrow and yesterday... Kevin’s a character. He was born that way. I’ve known him since he was a shorty down Devir Park with his tiny little skates and oversized hockey equipment racing up and down the frozen big-league infi eld waiting his turn to play with the big boys. He got stories. If you don’t believe me... well, I think you know the answer by now. Here’s a couple... So, Kevin’s in Los AngeUSA Spring Cleanouts Lawn and Yard Care It’s Time For * Cutting, Weeding * Mulching, Trimming * Bushes, Shrubs and More! Lawn Cut 25 From $ 781-521-9927 les (Beverly Hills) many years ago, and he’s looking to meet movie stars. He knows Jimmy Stewart lives on Roxbury Drive next door to Lucille Ball and Gary Morton, so Kevin thinks to himself why not knock on Jimmy’s door and introduce himself. Longtime Maldonians will recognize that as pure Malden chutzpah! Think Jeff Hurley. Kevin knocks, Jimmy answers. “My name is Kevin Larson and I live in Malden, Ma” was Kevin’s opening line. Jimmy chuckled, according to Kevin, and was “very polite.” To Kevin’s surprise he is asked inside the Stewart home. Kevin requests a picture. Jimmy says he has to put his sweater on first. Sweater falling nicely, he stands by the piano and Kevin snaps away. Kevin’s not through just yet. Before he leaves, he asks Jimmy if he could do an imitation of him. Jimmy laughs and says, “Please, that would be nice.” So, Kevin channels his inner Jimmy Stewart from the classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” – “Mary, Mary!” Jimmy signed an autograph for Kevin to Kev’s dad, Jack. True stories mind you, I can vouch for that. When you are Kevin Larson chatting up Jimmy Stewart, entering his home and taking one of the last pictures ever known to be taken of Smith, that isn’t quite good enough. How about breakfast with Katharine Hepburn? It’s the summer of ’81. Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn are fi lming “On Golden Pond.” The fi lming takes place close to the Larsons’ summer home on Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H. Kev’s dad spots Hepburn getting out of a vehicle and nonchalantly asks if she’d like to join the Larsons at the breakfast table. It’s about 7 in the morning and Jack says, “Miss Hepburn, would you like a cup of coff ee?” She turns to him, looked him in the eyes and replied, “Is it perked coffee?” To which Jack replied, “Absolutely it’s perked.” She enters their humble cottage on Squam Lake and enjoys a homemade breakfast, Malden-style. Believe it or not Fonda arrived and was outside waiting to pick Hepburn up. Kevin asks Fonda for his autograph, and Henry’s exact quote was “Son, if I sign that autograph this movie will MALDEN: TODAY| SEE PAGE 22 Call
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