Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ In a Malden State of Mind By Peter Levine I ’ve been in a Malden state of mind lately. One of those moods where the past feels just a whisper away. After a few unexpected, heartfelt encounters with old friends it reminded me, yet again, how deeply fortunate my family and I were when our parents chose Malden as the place to plant roots and raise us. First, I crossed paths with Dom Fermano, who was carrying the heavy sorrow of losing his lifelong friend, Paul DeMayo. You could feel the weight of that loss in his voice, in his eyes. Seventy-five years of friendship including boyhood adventures, high school mischief, weddings, babies, tragedy, San Rock and all Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net the changes Malden has seen through the decades — bound together by shared memories that now live a little more inside Dom than in the world around him. Their story is Malden’s story. Then I ran into my childhood bestie, Greg Phaneuf, who beamed with joy as he shared news of his daughter Mackenzie’s wedding. The pride in his voice echoed the legacy of his parents — Paul and Mary — two pillars of our community, both educators and champions for kids. I couldn’t help but think how their hearts would have overflowed seeing their granddaughter so radiant, grounded and kind — generations connected by values that were planted right here in this city we all share. And finally, on a quiet Sunday morning, I saw Mary (Brown) Spadafora greeting her husband Tony as he pulled into the driveway. The aroma of her Sunday Paul DeMayo, Larry Palumbo & Dom Fermano sauce already in the air — feeding not just bellies, but tradition — surrounded by her children and her ever-growing clan of grandchildren, all full of life, love and possibility. Another Malden family passing the torch, with grace and pride. Dom’s grief, Greg’s joy, Mary and Tony’s legacy — it’s all swirling in my head and heart today. And it all leads me to the same thought: We are lucky. Lucky to be from Malden. There’s something really special here, something deep in the bones of this city that connects us, whether we’ve lived here forever or just
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