Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 11, 2024 ~ Malden Musings ~ Happy Birthday, Stella Pinkham By Peter Levine I t is said in “Malden Musings”... • Happy birthday to the reigning “Queen of Adams Street,” Stella (Dantes) Pinkham (Debbie Espo, you’re still the “Queen of Edgeworth” – we good? LOL)! Stella graduated from Malden High in 1951, turning a fabulous 91 on June 15. On June 17, Edwina Carroll, Bonnie (Wayshak) Littlejohn and her two daughters took Stella to lunch and celebrated at her favorite restaurant, Exchange Street Bistro. At E.S., they bumped into former City Clerk and fl eet-footed center fi elder for the Devir Park Nine Greg Lucey and Johnny “Man of Mystery” Cagno, who were overjoyed when they spotted Stella – giving her a great big birthday hug and kiss. Stella is the best! Her love of neighborhood, kind and generous way and her wicked awesome square pizza won me over on day one. Happy birthday, Stella! Love and kisses from Malden! • Sincerest condolences to Rossie, Frankie, Joey and Tom Schifano on the recent loss of their beloved mom, Norma joy regardless: • “You don’t have to be a druggie to get off on the Orange Line.” • “Goodbye Granada, goodbye, Malden Square.” • “Is it true that Saint Rocco is the patron saint of the Rolling Stones?” • “Malden must be the greatGreg Lucey, birthday gal Stella Pinkham and Johnny Cagno are pictured at Exchange Street Bistro. (Candelora) Schifano. Lifelong Malden Mrs. Schifano passed at age 98. Her beloved son Jackie preceded her. May both Norma and Jackie’s memory be a blessing. • Congratulations to the Malden Moose and the wonderful Dorazio family for 65 years of making the Malden community a better place to live. Who doesn’t love going to a function at the Moose and digging into a plate of their world-famous chicken parm with raviolis? A place where you always get a swell feed! Fuhgeddaboudit! And being served by one of the best bar keeps this side of Mid-grade Regular $3.59 2.78 49 31 Over 45 Years of Excellence! Full Service $2.95 Order online at angelosoil.com The Continental (think Jackie Gleason’s “Joe the Bartender”), Ralphie Kelley! And just for the record, the Moose has one of the best club memberships on the North Shore. Bunch of good Joes up there on the hill (ya, I’m talkin’ bout you, Jimmy Bagz)! Thank you, Henry and family, for all you do! • My latest installment of SeeClickFix Unintentional Comic Ad Libs – “In the parking lot next to the Eliot Early Intervention Center there is a pigeon. He’s been there since this morning. He doesn’t look well, and I feel bad. I did try to call Kevin but he’s away from his desk. Please come and get this bird. Thank you very much.” • Wayne Martineau: You are in our thoughts and hearts. Ten musings straight from the inspirational pen of the late John O’Brien, whose wit and wisdom endeared him to generations of Maldonians – as well as the inspiration for the name of this column. Here are 10 Malden-centric witticisms from his iconic “Musings” columns. Small note: These musings are taken from John’s columns from the 1970s, and some of these musings may require residence in Malden for at least the last 45 years to “get them.” I hope all enest city in the world. It’s the only one where you have to pay to get off a train.” • “We met on the Isle of Capri, but we split in an aisle at the A&P.” • “I fell for a fallen woman, one fall in the Fells.” • “When we breakfasted at the Robin Hood, you were the toast of Broadway.” • “An optimist is someone who thinks the Malden Station escalator will be repaired before Christmas.” (written in May) • “There’s a line between the Indianapolis Speedway and Exchange Street that’s hard to draw on a morning such as this.” • “The Audubon Society just sighted a double-breasted seersucker in Jordan Marsh.” Malden Musings Spotlight Series (Redux): Come along if you care, come along if you dare (wait, just had a 1968 flashback with the Amboy Dukes) and take another short ride down “Malden Hard Ball Memory Lane” with these I.C.L. Hall of Famers: • Mike Barnes: Andre Chiefs; “Barnesy” was a good, solid player with Edgeworth bona fi des to boot! • Eddie DiGiacomo: player/ manager (Medford Mustangs); really good guy with an intense will to compete; could play hoops, too! But had large shoes to fi ll following in the footsteps of his fi ve-tool brother, Richie. • Shawn Brickman: Medford Mustangs, Andre Chiefs, Powderhouse Pub; three (plus) sport Malden legend; Earl’s dad; Molly and Samantha’s, too!! Grandfather extraordinaire! Nuff said. • George Ravanis: Arlex Oilers; former Malden resident, co-owner with his brother Billy at Frank’s Steak House in East Cambridge; Double A with the Cleveland organization! Another sweetheart of a guy and a certifi ed saint for keeping Malden’s Preacher Jack employed at Frank’s for seven long years (1995-2002). • John “Trixie” Trischitta: Hosmer Chiefs; local raconteur and integral off field cog with all those great Augustine A’s teams. • Ernie Ardolino Sr: Hosmer Chiefs; player, coach, mentor; father of Ernie who wore many hats during his long illustrious sports career. No, he did NOT live at Donut Villa! Rest in peace, big guy. • Mike Turilli: Melrose Rams; baseball and bocce stud as well as a wicked good kid. • Richie DiGiacomo: Hosmer Chiefs; drafted by the Red Sox, had his picture taken with Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle; Eddie’s big brother and boy could he play the game! • Pete Frates: Lexington Blue Sox; courageous young man who brought ALS awareness to a whole new level. Rest in peace. • Kevin Giannino: Augustine A’s; the Brooks Robinson of all those great A’s teams at Devir Park. • Harry Mehos: Augustine A’s; The most dedicated sports fan in MHS and A’s history; missed terribly to this very day by brothers Johnny and Michael as well as the Malden sports community at large. • Rob Santo: Medford Mustangs & Augustine A’s. My man Robby!! Another sweetheart of a kid with a powerful left-hand stroke unlike (IMO) any hitter that ever stepped to the plate at Devir Park. He made his parents (and Edgeworth) very proud. • Bill Smeglin: Melrose Rams & Medford Mustangs; a star from his LL days with the Twins all the way up the Malden baseball food chain and well beyond. • John Brickley: Augustine A’s; originally a Trafton Park kid before moving to Melrose. • Dave Caiazzo: Augustine A’s. What more can we say about Cai that hasn’t already been said (22-2 at New Haven!)?! A Hall of Fame person fi rst and foremost. • Paul Lahey: Media (Malden Evening News); Made the M.E.N. sports page a must (and fun) read for so many years. • Mike Langston: Andre Chiefs; one of the greatest athletes to ever grace the ball fi elds of Malden, and if you park illegally in Malden these days, Mike WILL search you out and tag you! • Ed Larson: Augustine A’s; Kevin’s big brother, friend to all, including yours truly, and one of those baseball lifers that are the backbone of a community. His memorial stone at Devir Park is a sort of holy grail to a lot of us who knew and loved Eddie. • Dr. Richard Morelli: Rams; Extreme front man Gary Cherone’s uncle and “Malden Musings” certifi ed standup guy! • Dave Polcari: Chiefs; a true gentleman and a giant in I.C.L. history. In my opinion his lefthand swing rivaled only by Robby Santo’s. I think he stroked line MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 18
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