Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 26, 2022 Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/ Advocate.news.ma Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com N Malden Musings – Saint Rocco 2022, Part 1 By Peter Levine icholas Menkello is Nicky Angelo’s godson. You may not know Nicholas Menkello but you know Nicky Angelo! This beloved “Son of Edgeworth” singlehandedly kept the Saint Rocco Feast alive through the good and lean years, his status in his Edgeworth neighborhood a cross between Paul McCartney, JFK and Matt Dillon. Not only for the exemplary life he’s lived, not only for that handsome, ageless babyface (we often speak of Nicky’s still incredible head of hair), not only for marrying well, but most of all for his two beautiful daughters, Paula and Ann-Marie!! I remember my fi rst-ever Nicky Angelo experience. It was at Saint Rocco 1978. I was nursing a Miller High Life in “Albert’s Beer Garden” with my (late) BFF Jimmy Damiano when the “Prince of Pearl Street” comes strolling in. (Is it just me? This guy even walks cool!) Showing cult-like reverence, the crowd splits like the Red Sea as if Nicky were the Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones parting the crowd at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967! I asked Jimmy who the (heck) that was. He sideways glanced me with a smirk and says, “I forgot, you grew up on the other side of Highland Ave.; you probably don’t know Nicky Angelo.” But I digress... This little story is about Nick’s ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS....Beautiful colonial offers 6 rooms 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, nice open front foyer leading to an updated kitchen with maple cabinets, granite counters, granite peninsular with seating for four and pendent lighting, formal dining room, open concept to living room, main bedroom features private bath, trek deck - great for enjoying a cup of coffee or barbecuing, oversized yard with storage shed, security system, central air, roof, siding, heat approximately 10 years old, first floor interior painted 2 years ago. Don’t miss this one! Offered at $ 599,900. 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com godson Nicky (Menkello). Handsome like the godfather (oops, I meant his godfather), Nicky and I became fast friends this San Rocco over our love of the weekend and the reason we gather on Pearl on the second weekend of the year. Every year. Nick is chiseled like a WWE wrestler and has a “don’t mess with me”–type look about him, but as the saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Soft-spoken with a way about him that belies his appearance, Nicky pulled double duty this past San Rock weekend fi rst by volunteering behind the grill then walking the Procession on Sunday afternoon. This earned him my annual “San Rock 10th Player Award” for the three-day fest. I digress, once again. Nicky told me a great story about a recent purchase of his. Well, take it away Nicky: “Anyone who grew up in the Edgeworth section of Malden knows that around the beginning of August there is a heightened sense of community among the Saint Rocco faithful. For the past several years I’ve been searching for a statue like the one we all know and love that stood at the corner of Saint Peter’s Parish, and now, at the IACC (the original still displayed in Vinnie Della Gatta’s bay window on Pearl). I was able to fi nally fi nd the exact same one carved by the Daprato Brothers (1884 vintage Italy)! It went on auction, and I placed a bid along with my Edgeworth story, and what it meant to not only my family (godfather Nick) but to an event that brought us ALL together. I won the auction instantly and his long journey began to Boston. Unfortunately, upon arrival the Saint was destroyed, in pieces. I was devastated to see it in ruins. But much like my Italian ancestors would have done, I summoned the skills needed to take every shattered piece and slowly restore him. It took about a month and many hours but it’s back to a proper condition, with minor imperfections. It was a painstaking honor to rebuild alongside the amazing skill of the Diprato’s [sic] nearly 150 years ago. He will grace my dining room on a platform I built from hand and will be in our family and our hearts forever. Viva San Rocco.” Brilliant Nicky, thanks for sharing. Picked up pieces while (still) physically recuperating from (a long) Saint Rocco weekend... • San Rock weekend was a smashing success. The weather was outstanding, the enterMUSINGS | SEE PAGE 15
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