Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 30, 2021 Malden Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday – Highland Café remembered By Peter F. Levine I t is said in Malden today, tomorrow, and yesterday... You thought Dave Angelo from Public Facilities is just another pretty face, didn’t ya! Dave is fast becoming one of Eric Rubin’s best hires, nipping at the heels of Mike “The Professional” Bartlett as “Top Dog” in the department. An underrated athlete growing up, in another life Dave was the heart and soul of the Highland Café, sharing a lead role at the iconic family restaurant alongside his legendary father, John. Purchasing the Highland in ’79. Come 1990, Dave was top banana, pumping out 500 pies on any given Friday night (I may have had one or two of them)! Cleaning the bathrooms in the morning, opening the doors at 8 for the morning regulars (I was not one of them) and having the menu drawn up by noon, then hitting the kitchen to make the PAYLESS OIL 877-688-7667 $2.29 SPRING Go GREEN LANDSCAPING & CONSTRUCTION LLC 9 Senior/Veteran Discounts Serving All Communities Lawns Cut CLEANUPS CHEAP FREE Estimates and Fully Insured $100 (COUPON YOUR CHOICE * THESE SERVICES ONLY * LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER) NEW SPRING OR FALL FLOWERS * NEW SHRUBS * TREE REMOVAL OUTSIDE PAINTING * JUNK REMOVAL * SIMPLE HANDYMAN REPAIRS * COUPON IS REDEEMABLE FOR NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Services include: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Fertilization * Mulching *Junk Removed * Aeration * New Shrubs/Trees * Demolition * Irrigation Systems * New Lawns/Sod/Seed * Dog Poop Scoping * Dethatching * Tree Removal * Masonry * Lawn Cutting * Stump Removal * Landscaping * Spring/Fall Clean Ups * Gutter Cleaning * Sealcoating * Pruning * New Fences SERVING THE NORTH SHORE 877-688-7667 best pie in town. Also, what a memory this kid has! The possessor of an encyclopedic memory known for recounting where “all the bodies are buried,” as the saying goes. I neglected to include the Highland in my “old man’s bar” article a few weeks back, so Dave reached out and reached into that massive brain full of factoids for the next time we crossed paths. He reminded me that before The Highland was The Highland it was still The Highland, but its nickname was more ominous, it was affectionately called the “Bucket of Blood” for the many bloody altercations that took place there. True stories, mind you! Thank you, Dave! I mentioned Freddy Ribeiro a few weeks back (class of ’74 MHS), and it got me thinking of all the great wrestlers that walked through those doors on Salem Street, always well coached also. Guys like Phil Gormley and John “C.J.” Lopresti – coaches who not only taught the mechanics of wrestling but also instilling in their boys a sense of hard work, persistence and professionalism, and a healthy dose of respect for the sport of wrestling. Students like Freddy, Mike Scibelli, City of Malden Public Facilities Director Eric Rubin and Danny “The Strongman” Ford – most who went through the wrestling program going on to succeed in life as outstanding citizens. C.J. was so good at what he taught that three of his guys went on to be State Champs, 15 State Place winners, 16 Sectional Champs with 29 going on to wrestle at the college level; 29 becoming wrestling coaches themselves. Over 15 years C.J. had 175 wins and 60 losses! That is an amazing feat. Guys like John, Dan & Brian O’Boyle as well as Dan Ford, Dave Russo, Mike Joltki, Dom Sardo, Eddie Wilcox, Chris Carrabino and Jay Smith went on to wrestle in college. Danny Della Gatta, Jeff Carroll, Andy Briatico, Anthony Scibelli, Benny Talbot, Johnny “Eck” Eccleston, Dave O’Brien, “Rapid” Johnny Rafuse, Steve & Mike Rubin and Guy Prescott went on to coaching careers. Sectional Champs included Guy, Dan & Dave Ford, John & Brian O’Boyle, Jimmy Cherry, Eric Rubin, Donny Boyce, Danny Della Gatta, Dave Russo (entertainer), Jimmy “Hacksaw” Reynolds and Carlos Ortiz. Malden’s glory days of wrestling for sure. Speaking of Dave Angelo, anybody else notice that awesome Malden High School baseball cap he has been sporting lately? Sweet! Dorothy “Dotty” Esteves has finally called it quits! The City of Malden Public Facilities Department suffered a devastating blow when this longtime employee retired after working for Malden for over 20 years. The hardworking Dotty was, of course, congratulated by Mayor Christenson with a snazzy diploma celebrating her hard work and dedication and handed two balloons and her very own City of Malden face mask. I kid, of course. I loved this statement from Gary (Doesn’t he always know the best things to say?): “I have always felt that we are only as good as the people around us and Dotty exemplifies that philosophy.” As always Mr. Mayor, spot on, and happy retirement, Dotty! On a side note: I joke that this guy or that guy is the backbone of Public Facilities, but without women like Dorothy, Sheila Wilcox and Dorothy Pereira-Kerger there would be no PF! True facts. Who remembers late night forays to “Buzzy’s Fabulous Roast Beef” at the corner of North Anderson and Cambridge Street in Boston? Perhaps you spent the night partying with Ellis Hall at Jack’s on Mass Avenue in Cambridge? Or you spent the night at Clarke’s in Faneuil Hall making merry along with North Shore Acapella, or maybe you jumped into your first mosh pit with the Real Kids at the Rat in Kenmore Square? More than likely your last stop of MALDEN: TODAY| SEE PAGE 22 The Highland Café gang circa early 1990’s pictured in front of the bar; shown from left to right are Jeff Sullivan, Dave Angelo, Russ Garland, Mark Burns, John Crannell, Johnny Puleo, Peter Levine and Bert Cioffi. (Courtesy Photo)
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