Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 31, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ The Life & Times of Jerry Nadler By Peter Levine F rom time to time, I’ve been known to scribble a few lines about one of the more popular Maldonians, my pal (and yours) Harvey Nadler. But here’s a little-known fun fact: Harvey had a big brother named Jerry — every bit as brilliant, maybe even more so (though, to be honest, not quite as good-looking — as Harvey will unabashedly let you know). Jerry Nadler passed away this past March at 83 years young, and what a life he lived: from humble Malden roots to a BU degree and then a master’s from Harvard. How about that for a kid from our side of the tracks? Jerry spoke Russian, German and Yiddish like a champ, but the night I had the pleasure of sitting with him at a small side table at the I.A.C.C., he spoke the universal language of good conversation, just like us regulars. That night, Jerry didn’t need a translator. He was warm, funny and wonderfully down-to-earth. We talked like old friends, two Maldonians swapping stories. Behind those calm eyes, though, was a man who had seen and done it all. A U.S. Army vet during the Vietnam era, Jerry went on to write for the Record American and later served as bureau chief for the AP and UPI in Moscow, where he brushed shoulders with some guy named Mikhail Gorbachev. Later, stationed in Tel Aviv during Israel’s war in Lebanon, he cheated death when his car was blown up — literally —and somehow he lived to tell the tale. After that, it was stints in New York, D.C., Arkansas and probably a few spots only Jerry could point out on a globe. Through it all, he stayed the same: self-effacing, modest, wise and deeply connected to his Jewish heritage, which seemed to anchor him wherever life sent him. Our conversation that evening covered his adventures to his reflections, touching on life, luck and the strange way time passes us by. I remember thinking how modest he was, how little he gave away about the extraordinary chapters he’d lived. You’d never guess, sitting across from him, the depth of the stories he carried. When I think back on that Mid-grade Regular 2.73 3.35 3.47 $3.47 Full Service ULS $2.99 Order online at angelosoil.com Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 Kerosene Now Available! night, I feel grateful — to Harvey, for introducing me to his remarkable big brother, and to Jerry, for sharing a small piece of his incredible journey with me. It was one of those fleeting moments that stays with you — a reminder of how extraordinary some ordinary-seeming lives truly are. May his memory be a blessing. It is said in “Malden Musings”... • On Tuesday, October 14, at 7:05 p.m., the “traffic light from hades” at Exchange & Main (where Jack in the Box once met Signor Pizza) was flashing red. After a brief pause I sailed right on through, which made me very, very happy. The last time I was that happy I was eating my sister Barbara’s chicken cutlets! Be prepared before the next power outage. Hint, hint! • Hot diggity dog! The promotional flyer I received for Phat Thaiger at 166 Eastern Ave. shows a lounge area that I want to spend a considerable amount of time in all the while enjoying exotic drinks whose names I would have difficulty pronouncing! If I ever left my recliner again, that is. Modern, sleek, reeking of hipness — Avenue C it ain’t! LOL. • Happy, happy joy, joy!! Driving up Route 1 on Monday, August 18, locked onto 90.3 WZBC out of Boston College to the show “Summertime Loving, Loving in the Summer (Time)” at about 5:30 along comes local cult classic “Land of the Glass Pinecones” by those crazy talented cats in Human Sexual Response. HSR were possibly Boston’s best of the “new wave” bands from the golden era of Boston rock and garage and should have/could have been huge. Upon breakup HSR morphed into the Zulus (amongst others), and the only Malden connection I got here is that Zulus bassist Rich Cortese lived on Adams Street for a short period, and on one San Rock weekend I picked his brain on all things HSR/Zulus — a conversation I will soon not forget. • Michael Ardai, of Malden, formerly of Manhattan, New York, may his memory be a blessing. • More names of skilled Malden hockey roughnecks from yesteryear: Ray Porter, Joey & Bobby DiMeco, Larry Scibelli and Kevin Halpern. The names keep rolling in; I’ll have a more comprehensive list soon with a little help from an old Watts Street pally, Jay O’Halloran. • Speaking of rink rats of yesReceive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535. Call 866-852-0221 to schedule your free quote! teryear, I saw hockey phenom Robby “Salem State Hall of Famer” Buckley a couple weeks back with his lovely wife Denise, and I must say, Rob, with all due respect, of course, Denise, you have not aged a day! A beauty from your Girl’s Catholic days on Highland Ave. right up until 2025! • I haven’t forgotten you, John Bionelli, and your considerable hockey skills — who, I believe, still plays today at age 61! Holy cow! “Who loves ya, baby?!” said A black & white snapshot of Jerry Nadler mastering the art of golf in my best Kojak voice. • While on the subject of Malden hockey legends, I hear tell Presley Street’s Dennis “Two Doors Down” Murphy is back in town. Look up the word “legend” in the dictionary (do they make dictionary’s anymore?) and you will see Murph’s picture! Details to follow. • Happy belated birthdays to Johnny “The Pride of Pearl Street” Molinari (10.22), Perry “Pearl’s Pride & Joy” Verge (10.22), and Lisa “The Love of Billy’s Life” Nolan (10.21). All the platters that matter! Spinning on my Halloween turntable during October 2025... • “Dracula’s Theme” — The Ghouls • “Dracula Cha Cha” — Roberto Valli Trio • “The Headless Horseman” — Kay Starr • “Drac the Knife” — Gene Moss & Fred Rice • “The Monster Bop” — Bert Convy • “You Must Be A Witch” (Stereo Version) — The Lollipop Shoppe • “Satan’s Theme” — The Rondels • “Science Fiction/Double Feature” — Richard O’Brien • “Horror Staccato” — Frankie Stein and His Ghouls • “Haunted Guitar” — The Three Suns In the “Boys of Summer via Linden on the Saugus Branch department,” I give to you... Norman Pashoian. Norm (M.H.S. 1975) FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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