Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 3, 2024 ~ Malden Musings ~ Eric Rubin Spotlight By Peter Levine “M 50 alden Musings’” City of Malden Employee Eastern Bank Building on Rte. 1S 605 Broadway, #301 * Saugus (781) 233-6844 www.bostonnorthdental.com Spotlight this month goes to Public Facilities Director Eric Rubin (long, sustained round of applause follows). Lifelong Malden immersed in the community from Day 1, a direct descendent of Suffolk Square, dedicated family man and one of the more popular Directors working for Malden today (along with Joe Levine in the Recreation Dept., of course)! Little known ER factoid: Eric was an extremely successful Malden High School wrestler (and nobody wore wrestling tights as well as Eric, before or since!). He was twotime captain, Sectional Champion, Suburban League Champion and three-time Belmont Invitational Division 1 Champ! Bafangool! Who would have thought!? That’s bigly. My goal, if I choose to accept it, is to get ER into the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame! You know Dave “I’m not that Dr. Priti Amlani Dr. Bhavisha Patel * Restorative Dentistry * Cosmetic Dentistry * Implant Restoration * Zoom Whitening * Teeth in a Day - All on 6 * Invisalign * CEREC Crowns (Single Visit Crowns) * Root Canal Treatment * Sedation Dentistry ~ Full Mouth Rehabilitation ~ Before After kind of Indian” Russo, right? That wicked funny cat with a heart of gold who would show up to the opening of an envelope if asked? The guy who once had my brother Joe and I laughing out loud at Honey Dew on Eastern Ave. as he recounted a little story from his childhood past. Fuhgeddaboudit!! Anyway, “The Entertainer,” also being a very accomplished wrestler himself, wrestled with Eric and is a big supporter of the ER HOF movement. Little known DR factoid: Dave entered MHS at 4'11", weighing only 79 pounds!! A natural athlete, Dave excelled as a member of the wrestling team, becoming MHS’s first-ever state wrestling champion and win• When Freddie’s Market on Public Facilities Director Eric Rubin ning “Most Valuable Wrestler” in the state (he was also a break dancer but that is a story for another time). After high school he wrestled his way into Wilkes University in Pennsylvania and the University of New Hampshire on a Division 1 Wrestling Scholarship (before wrestling his way into our hearts), later winning the Gold Medal at the Bay State Games. That is all way before he became besties with Wayne “Mr. Danke Schoen” Newton on the road to fame if not fortune. But I digress, once again...these words of wisdom come directly from Dave’s clever mind and very large brain: “Although wrestling is an individual sport, I know Eric as being a team player first and always foremost putting the team above his own statistics. I’ve personally seen numerous come from behind victories because Eric displayed the type of Malden pride we expect from our Tornado athletes!” Word up, Dave! This spotlight’s on you, Eric, you deserve it, dude, for doing a boffo job in Facilities and, hopefully – if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise – your future induction into the sanctified halls of the MHS Hall of Fame. Checks in the mail, right, Eric (insert smiley face)? You are a longtime Maldonian if you remember… • When the Malden River ran under Charles Street along Canal and could be openly viewed behind the Granada Theatre in all its trash strewn pre-EPA, polluted glory. • When you could make it from your home in Edgeworth to the Square (substitute your area of Malden here) without hitting a light if you knew which side streets to take, try THAT today. • When Bobby “Popcorn” Wade could outshoot you in hoop, outplay you in table tennis and outplay you in pool up the Y with the use of only one arm Pearl Street was a thriving neighborhood Italian deli (authentic smell, feel and look included – Parmigiano Reggiano wheels hanging from the ceiling) before the corporate giants came in and altered a way of life • Saturday afternoons hustling pool with Chuckie Frangoulis, Barry & Brian Hitchcock, Tony Difillippo, Johnny Molinari, Timmy Silva, Jimmy Damiano, Bottles Esposito, Tony Spadafora and Jimmy Anagnos at the Charles Street Bowling Alley • Former MHS Principal and current resident sage of Malden Dana Brown, his brother Franny, (the late) Virginia Ruane’s youngest boy Frankie, BRL 1972 MVP Steve Carlin, Johnny and Mike Cagno and former Superintendent of Cemeteries Jimmy “Who” Cahill all worked either in the kitchen or at the bar of the late, great much-loved Highland Cafe. • When Malden had two movie theaters (Strand & Granada); even longer resident if you remember when we had (at least) seven. • When Brendan Duffy, “Broadway Phil” Camille, Jimmy Kerr, Johnny “No Gloves” Zamagni, Jimmy Clifford, Joe “Chills” Levine, “Tall Paul” Abare, Frank Lique, Bo Butland, Mario Cantone (yes, that Mario Cantone, owner of the legendary punk rock club Cantone’s on Broad Street in Boston and father of famous funnyman Mario Cantone), Richie “Ace” Howard, Paul “Flash” Norton, Bruce Vining, Mario Pallotta (there is a guy I really, really miss) and Pat Grady ruled the handball courts at the old Y. Night after sweat filled night. Just for the record, if you didn’t walk off the handball or basketball court and your gray tee shirt wasn’t sweat drenched – your Y membership card, your locker key and your two towels were taken away from you by Erika Christenson at the front desk. Am I correct, Erika? Insert smiley face. • John “Muffy” Clemente • The National League Pee Wee contest between the Hawks and the Falcons when Bobby “Nip” DeSerio (Dante’s little brother) hit a game winning three-run homer in the sixth for the Hawks third straight victory with Bobby Covelle (Freddy’s big brother) chipping in with a granny, a triple and a single. Also playMUSINGS| SEE PAGE 18
7 Publizr Home