Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 15, 2024 ~ Malden Musings ~ In Memory of Scott Carroll By Peter Levine I first met Scott Carroll when Tyrannosaurus rex roamed the earth. In the early 1980s Scotty was an eager, bright-eyed 15-year-old with a friendly smile toiling in Albert Spadafora’s kitchen on Canal Street along with a motley crew of coworkers. He was polite, hardworking and always hustling. On occasion his coworkers would take a break in the parking lot and delight in some of life’s more hedonistic rituals. Straight edge, before straight edge, not Scotty though. He was driven to excellence and had some serious goals in mind for the future. Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Cedar impression half rounds Fast forward to 2024; Scotty Carroll is now Lieutenant Scott Carroll, a valued member of the administration and operations division at the Malden Police Department. So, I’m sitting in the office at the Parking Department and who pulls an unexpected pop in?! My pally Lt. Carroll! No exaggeration here – always such a pleasure to see him. Anybody who knows Scott, knows what I speak of. We talked playoff bocce ball at the Italian American Citizen’s Club, the late Butchie Gennetti, the Saint Rock Festa and his love of this simple but at times banal column of mine. I explained to him that all you have to do, Scott, is compliment me or my column in order to get your name in print. Solid gold, I says to him, you’re “in like Flynn,” my friend. I got some good words for you! Scott Carroll died unexpectedly on November 3 at the age of 56. Scotty was a dedicated professional and respected leader. He served with professionalism, integrity and pride – joining the ranks of the Malden Police Department in 2000 after honorably serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; progressing through the ranks, becoming a sergeant in 2014, and lieutenant in 2023, contributing to the MPD criminal investigation and special operations units. Not what I expected to be writing, Scotty. Never in a million lifetimes could I envision these words, my friend. This ain’t the way I saw it, dude. Even as I write these words, two weeks after, it ain’t easy. Gotta be frank with ya, kid, Malden is really struggling without you. To his wife Fran and two children Isabella (Bell) and Francesca (Cess), my sincerest condolences – “only time moves onto the next scene, memories remain in the heart forever.” My stepdaughter Angela has fought the good fight in life but not before hitting a couple of speed bumps along the way as a young adult. They were the darkest of times, but possessing the heart of a lioness, the determination of a prizefighter (think Marvin Hagler circa 1977) and a lifeEric Whitney, Scott Carroll and Scott Whitney saving mitzvah from family and friends (most notably her mom, who sacrificed all in her daughter’s fight for survival), Angela is today one of life’s glorious success stories. She is now mother to 14-year-old Christian, 11-year-old Lola, four-year-old Lana and twoyear-old Milo, her grit and resolution earning her the respect and admiration of all who watched this incredible journey of hers. Me raising my hand as her number one fan. Along this unthinkable journey was one Malden Police Officer who will remain forever in her (and our) hearts and go down as the unsung hero in her life (and ours). Here is Angela Falzaranos’ Scotty Carroll story: “The night was Tuesday December 13, 2005. I was 20 years old. A night I’ll never forget. It was like any other ordinary night. I was off again to poison my body and destroy my life further. That night was different though. With self-shame and misery drowning my soul, I drove down Lebanon Street from Seaview toward Sylvan in my ’99 red Pontiac Grand Prix off to an endless Existence. Suddenly, blue lights. As the two police officers searched my car, I remember very few details. However, what I remember most is how I felt. One of the detectives looked upon me as if I were not a person. To that detective, I did not deserve compassion. I was a threat. I was the enemy. Rightfully so. However, there was another detective present. His eyes were filled with compassion, concern, and confuMUSINGS| SEE PAGE 7 Monogram D4 Double siding Harvey Vinyl 66 Replacement Windows Custom Aluminum Trim work Windows & Doors Top quality Vinyl Siding! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Roofing •Free Estimates •Replacement Windows •Fully Licensed •Fully Insured
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