THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 6, 2019 Page 9 MALDEN: TODAY | FROM PAGE 8 that she gave to her children, relatives, neighbors, doctors, nurses and others who did something nice for her • Loves playing cards over the years with friends and family; still today at 99 years old you can find her playing solitaire on her tablet • Loves to bake her famous cookies, pizzelles and sfogliatella • Did a lot of traveling over the years throughout this country, Canada, Hawaii and Europe; her favorite trips were to Italy • She cruised the Caribbean and was a frequent traveler with the Cantara Travel Group from Edgeworth, where she was known as “the best dressed lady” • She is a “shop-a-holic” and her favorite stores over the years were Raymond’s Basement and Filene’s Basement • Loves her clothes and has many outfits and shoes; she is always noted for her matching outfits • She loves to do crafts • She is currently residing with her son and daughter-inlaw in Melrose • She is now a parishioner of St Mary’s of the Annunciation Church in Melrose • She loves gardening and still grows flowers, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more • She loves ballroom dancing; she was quite a polka dancer in her days • She loves the outdoors and you can always find her on her patio in Melrose • Loves her family and taught them to love and respect one another • She is planning her 100th birthday party at this very moment Okay, let’s go over the list once more – the top 200 best basketball players I have played against in Malden during my playing days. We’ll go 50 at a time in no particular order. Remember, this list is not a 1-200 best to not the best. Just random names, the next 50 names: Tony “Jess” Jesi, Donny “Gipper” Nally, Vinny “The Wizard” Pagliccia, Mary Ann “Smitty” Smith, Kenny Lee, Timmy Carey, Jimmy “Mirl” Mirley, Cliff Williams, Joey “Hultie” Hult, Joe Hachey, Rodney Marshall, Paul “Hawk” Finn, Joey “Pez” Pisaturo, Mike D’Orlando, Jeff Carroll, Hank O’Brien, Ann and Colleen McBride, Susan Cicarelli, Bruce Knight, Gary Dawson, Bobby Willis, Vance Ferratusco, Billy Murray, Steve Nelson, Tommy Stein, Dane Sparrow, Mike Byrne, Billy, Paul and Jimmy Coleman, Larry Green, Phil Scibelli, Terry Coleman, Cathy MacMullin, Tommy O’Brien, Peter Placowicz, Bobby Foley, Freddy Cowans, Leslie Hume, Eddie “Willkie” Wilcox, Paul “Stats” Stathopolous, Larry White, Dave Angelo, Howie Rodenheiser, Kevin Trodden, Billy and Frankie Curley, George MacKay, Andy Slavin, Joey Pagano and Paul and Sean Gilligan. One more time with feeling continues: “Just once more...” (continues): • I’d like to see Paul Gennetti behind the stick at the Highland Café with that great big handsome smile • I’d like to walk up that long flight of stairs to Al’s Pool Room on Pleasant Street (above Jenny’s Pizza) and watch Al LeFave, Tony DiFlippo and Vinnie Della Gatta hold a table all afternoon • I’d like to walk into Schopell’s on a Saturday morning, take a seat on the side and listen to Bill Mini, Don Squires, Arthur Kahn and the rest of their gang swap tales (tall and otherwise) of bygone days in Malden • I’d like to see Ptl. Sal “Butchie” Gennetti directing traffic in the middle of the Square – Baker’s to his left, First Baptist to his right and the High School in front • I’d like to watch Godzilla on “Creature Double Feature” on a Saturday afternoon with “Uncle Dale” (Dorman) hosting the original “must see TV” • I’d like to hear Tommy Kelly recite Shakespeare, word for word, line for line, after a long night of “celebrating” • I’d like to see the Santoses, the Sensiles, the Bionellis, the Surettes, the LaPages and the rest of their gang playing street hockey at Girls Catholic on Charles Street • I’d like to walk over to the Shell Station on the corner of the Fellsway and Emerald Street, grab a 10-ounce Coke out of the machine, walk over to the Bandstand, take a seat on the steps with my Big A Italian (everything including hots) and ice-cold Coke without a worry in the world • I’d like a French bread fresh out of the oven at DiPietro’s Bakery on a Sunday morning • I’d like to stroll into Riley’s Roast Beef, order a large beef plain and watch the after-hours crowd stumble through “Just once more – for the sake of old times and old-timers!” Thank you to James Calagero, who I totally lifted this idea from (and the last line) while I was thumbing through a back issue of Boston’s North End from 2002. “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end...” If you happen to glance up to the bay window at 121 Pearl St. to the second floor of the Italian American Citizens Club, you might have noticed that Saint Rocco has taken on a somewhat magical glow. Saint Rocco Committee Big Cheese Joyce Mover felt that if Rocco were to survive another 90 years, he would need a good cleaning and refurbishing. Ecco per I prossimi 90 anni! Postscript 1: My favorite Mike’s Café story: One night it was getting close to closing time; someone distracted Walter while someone else moved the clock back an hour. Walter never noticed. Thank you, Mike Deady, for the look back at Mike’s. Postscript 2: I posted a photo of the 61st Annual Thanksgiving Day Football Classic Program between Medford and Malden to my Facebook page last week. Great email back from old friend Timmy Carey: “My Dad was the starting tailback/scatback on that team Peter...loved listening to his old stories about playing for Warren McGuirk and Eddie Melanson...that team won the Gator Bowl against Lee HS from Florida year before.” WE WORK FOR YOU! * Have your car repaired by Real Manufacturer Certiified Technicians * An I-CAR GOLD CLASS SHOP Highest Certificate in the Repair Industry * Premier Insurance Co. Collision Repair Shop for Geico, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Progressive and more! * Over 30 Years of putting families back on the Road Safe & Fast! * ATLAS Stands Behind All Repairs with a Limited Lifetime Warranty 1605 North Shore Road, Revere * 781-284-1200 Visit us at: www.AtlasAutobody.com or call (781) 284-1200 to schedule your appointment today!
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