Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 7, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ Chris Moro Remembers Veterans Day By Peter Levine “V eteran’s Day is upon us. As of this date in 2025 there are only .05% of World War 2 veterans alive today. As each day passes ...soon there will be no WW2 veterans left just as the WW1 veterans eventually left us. So, if you come across a senior who looks like they could have been around that time period, please stop and say hello... and thank them for their service to our country. The greatest generation of men and women who helped rescue the world. Signed, the proud son of a veteran, Chris Moro.” Thank you, Chris, well said. Which reminds me of the... In the “they don’t write songs like they used to” department, I present to you John Prine’s “Hello In There” from his 1971 debut with these brilliantly heartfelt lyrics, “So if you’re walkin’ down the street sometime, And spot some hollow, ancient eyes, Please don’t just pass ’em by and stare, As if you didn’t care. Say, ‘Hello in there, hello.’” Prine also wrote another classic about a vet returning home from Vietnam with PTSD and a drug addiction, “Sam Stone.” Brilliant singer/songwriter, brilliant song. This week’s article continues with another classic Malden Musings deep dive into that history-making, earth-shaking, pants-dropping, heart-stopping year of 1963 (apologies, Bruce — couldn’t resist). Malden 1963 was a universe apart from Malden 2025; a vastly different creature in so many ways, yet, as you’ll soon find out, hauntingly familiar in others. Time changes places, but echoes of the past have a way of lingering. Come along if you care, come along if you dare (gold star if you know where that was lifted from). Malden 1963 through the eyes of the Malden Evening News and MHS’s Blue & Gold... • Oct. 3: “Inside Information...” Interest grows about naming the new MDC pool in Malden in memory of PTL Eddie Callahan, who died September 16 in the A&P hold up attempt on Pleasant Street. • Aug. 9: The Malden Redevelopment Authority is in a “tug of war” with the New Malden Advisory Council and a Ward 7 industry and business owners’ group over cleared land in the Suffolk Square/Faulkner project area. Proposals for the development of the area are to be submitted by Aug.15 for businesses and factories being displaced in the area to take advantage of the priority given to them since last year in obtaining a new site. My Note: Not much remains of the old Suffolk Square area. Suffolk Square was a Jewish enclave with kosher delis, shuls and their own theatre (Capital?). Most of and chicken soup even more. I kid, of course. • Aug. ’63: Who remembers Max’s Restaurant at 184 Salem St. (former home to Emonee Tofu now home to Kimchip?)? In 1963 it was billed as “The Friendly Meeting Place.” By 1983 when I frequented the joint, it wasn’t exactly what you would call a “friendly meeting place.” LOL. • Aug. ’63: Who remembers Leo Moro’s legacy honored by his family for future generations the Jewish kids from SS went to Lincoln Jr. High, making them a powerhouse in sports, especially football. Look for my 1925 LJH Football Team salute in a couple of weeks (you thought the ’87 MHS football team was good?). • Aug. ’63: E.E. Burns & Son Funeral Home at 204 Main St. and 572 Pleasant St. are “air-conditioned.” My note: E.E. Burns at the Main Street location recently closed up shop and will become what every Maldonian dreams of at night, a big brand-new apartment building (I say facetiously, of course). Before they tore down the Main Street building, the Malden Fire Dept. trained some of their best and brightest with some hands-on firefighting techniques on the structure. • Aug. 9: “Shakeup Due to Snap Red Sox Slump” — Manager Johnny Pesky planned to change the Sox lineup tonight against the Twins in Minnesota Be prepared before the next power outage. in a desperate attempt to break a slump that has dropped the team into the second division. My note: It would take Pesky (who was a good man, btw) and the Sox brass more than shaking up the lineup in order to elevate them out of cellar dweller status where they landed year after year during the Yawkey Era. The Sox shamefully being the very last MLB team to integrate in 1959! They would make a run in 1967, 1975, 1978, 1986 and with1988’s Morgan Magic but not truly join the ranks of other successful and enlightened organizations until John Henry and the New England Sports Ventures group took control in 2002. • Oct. 3: The Strand on Pleasant Street (approximately located where Malden Center Fine Wines is today) is showing “Toys in the Attic” with Dean Martin (a bomb) and “The Four Days of Naples” (an underground classic type of film). • The Aug. 9 MEN headline Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535. 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I believe this florist shop was owned by relatives of the late, great Bill McCormack (who are also related to that fabulous Gilligan clan)! • Speaking of the Gilligan clan, have you seen (comedian) Paulie G. perform recently? I admittedly don’t see him as much as I would like these days, but he is still gut busting funny —getting better with age. • Malden celebrities of note graduating in ’63... Joe Teta was another in a long line of Edgeworth luminaries that left an indelible mark on life. Joseph Walter Teta of 260 Pearl St. was a hockey, baseball, football and basketball star with his bio calling him “valuable.” He worked (of course) at Converse Rubber on Pearl and belonged to (of course) Holy Name of Saint Peter’s Church. His bio also states “with his patience and perseverance Joe will be an excellent teacher.” Not sure if Joe ever “taught” during his life, but he did have an outstanding career as a highly respected/dedicated court officer at the Woburn Superior Court. I also know for a fact that Joe was a stand-up guy whom I had the honor of calling friend! • Ralph Kenty of 42 Concord St. was hockey co-captain and an “indispensable” guard and tackle on the football team. Next time you are at the corner of Fellsmere Road and Savin Street check out the memorial in honor of Ralph — WIA in 1967 in Nam. • Timothy Francis Falzone of 43 Echo St. works at First National, is an “ardent” watcher of “Sea Hunt,” is a fan of Ray Charles (my note: so weren’t many of his
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