THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 14, 2023 Page 7 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 35 years or so (I know, she doesn’t look old enough!). More so than most elected offi cials (or otherwise) in Malden. A journalist in another life, Deb put pencil to paper and penned this beautiful missive to the late Karen Anderson’s family: “Hi Jim and family: I just don’t have the right words to express how sorry I am to learn about Karen’s passing. I had the pleasure of knowing Karen for more than 30 years— ahhh such a lifetime ago. In fact, she and I were pregnant with our kids just months apart from the other and I must admit I was so fl attered when she asked to share some of my maternity clothes. Ahh a 2 for one as they would say —such a deal! Lol… on a more serious note working alongside her at city hall I quickly admired her brilliance. She had a great legal mind and knew how to pull everything together. She was one of a kind. The city was indeed so very fortunate for her longtime devoted service. There will never be another Karen Anderson, but we are all the better for having had the pleasure of knowing her. Rest in peace my friend, you will indeed be missed, love Debbie Burke.” Postscript 1: My only brush with true greatness: 1983 – I am “in between jobs.” It’s a glorious midsummer morning so I decided to take the Orange Line into the North End. Destination: Galleria Umberto on Hanover Street. I get off at Haymarket and as I arrive at Hanover and Cross (close to where the Tony Demarco Statue now stands) I accidentally bump into a very tall man. I look up to see 6' 5" Boston Mayoral candidate (civil rights icon and much more) Mel King. I apologize then realize who this man is. I am taken aback for a moment before I gush best wishes to him on his run for mayor. The smile he gave me and the wave of thanks are indelibly imprinted in my mind. Rest in peace to a giant amongst men. Postscript 2: Not a dry eye on my face as I walk into Principal Mastrangelo’s offi ce space at Malden High and experience the love fest thrown for longtime MHS employee Judy – “don’t call me Spadafora” – Brandano Sullivan. Timing is everything in life as the MHS Choral Group begin “Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)” before segueing into “An Irish Blessing.” Congratulations and all the best in retirement, Judy. See you around the neighborhood! —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to the Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@ aol.com for comments, compliments or complaints. Meagan Lewis-Michelson Malden resident Malden resident takes the stage in “The Prom” S peakEasy Stage Company presents “The Prom” by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar. The 2019 Drama Desk Award winner for Outstanding Musical tells the story of an Indiana high school student who wants to take her girlfriend to their prom. When four bumbling Broadway hasbeens in search of relevance hear about the controversy, they barge into town to put a spotlight on the issue – and themselves. Nonstop laughs and show-stopping dance numbers make “The Prom” a feel-good musical with a message more timely than ever. Performer Meagan Lewis-Michelson resides in Malden and was born and raised in Everett. Meagan (she/her) makes her SpeakEasy Stage Company debut as Sheldon Saperstein in “The Prom,” and she has appeared in numerous regional productions, as well as off -Broadway in “The Big Bang Theory” and in the national tour of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Meagan has a B.A. from Harvard College and an MFA from Boston Conservatory. The Prom runs May 5–June 3 at the Roberts Studio Theatre in the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts (527 Tremont St. in Boston’s South End). More information is available at https://speakeasystage.com/shows/2023/05/ the-prom/ Mackey & Brown Attorneys at Law * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * GENERAL PRACTICE * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * CIVIL LITIGATION 14 Norwood St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.MACKEYBROWNLAW.COM John Mackey, Esq. * Katherine M. Brown, Esq. Patricia Ridge, Esq.
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