~ Malden Musings ~ “Malden High School 1965”

By Peter Levine

The 1960’s changed the landscape not only here in Malden but across the world. Courageous young men and women with strong belief systems held government/society accountable and brought us boldly into the future. Students at Malden High School were no exception, particularly the Class of 1965. Here we take another small glimpse at the 1965 Maldonian – their motto: “Here at M.H.S. We Strive for ‘Peace thru Understanding.’”

• The School Committee at MHS is stacked with some of Malden’s best and brightest! Mrs. Marguerite Holland is joined by future mayor “Gentleman Jim” Conway, Mrs. Bertha Gordon, George Logden and a longtime folklorist – the great Bill Mini.
• John Carroll was a Meteorology teacher. He also coached the Rifle Club and although they didn’t win the Middlesex Scholastic Rifle Championship, had a 907 average – highest in the league in ’65! John was still teaching at the high school when I got there, and I had him as a senior. A sweet man with a killer sense of humor in tune with the many misfits he had as students. John was a traveler having journeyed around the world, including Cuba, California, Mexico and Canada. Mr. Carroll’s personality, in my eyes, was bigger than life, with a brilliant mind and a quick wit. Would love to have known; was Cuba pre-Castro? In Mexico did his curiosity get the best of him (psilocybin Mexicana anybody)? California: Market Street in San Francisco? La Jolla Beach in San Diego?
• Carmine Belmonte was the merchandising and store salesmanship teacher. Although I never had him as a teacher, he did hook me up with my first “real” job at Faulkner Manufacturing on Eastern Avenue in 1978. Little known fact: He was Little League President in Beverly.
• Mabel “Miss Malden High” McQuesten functions as a “clerk” for Principal Webster. But she was so much more to students at Malden High throughout the years. A beloved figure in the history of MHS dating back to the 1940’s, Miss McQuesten was an “enthusiastic supporter” of athletics and was said to have accumulated the largest collection of press clippings from various athletic events in the city. She enjoyed summer vacations in New Hampshire, where I believe the McQuesten family originated. From what has been told to me by those that knew her personally, there will never, ever be another Mabel McQuesten.
• The legendary Samuel Winerman teaches business math and algebra. Mr. Winerman was another respected guy and role model back in the day who mentored and coached many youngsters throughout his storied career. A Greater Boston League Basketball Commissioner, he was also the City Recreation Commissioner as well as assistant Track Coach at MHS. Sam spent 1950 through 1952 as Recreation Supervisor for the Army throughout Europe. “Holy cow!” as Phil Rizzuto used to say.
• Miss Grace Crowe, Director of School Nurses, retires after 32 years in the school system. That means Miss Crowe started in 1933. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in as the 32nd president. The Great Depression was raging in ’33 when he uttered these famous words: “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Miss Crowe witnessed history in person.

This might be fun. Saw this on Facebook (where else!), thought I’d give it a shot. Let me know what you think, but if your list consists of New Kids on the Block as your best concert instead of your worst, you need not contact me:

1. First concert – (1972) James Montgomery Blues Band with Peter Myle’s band Asylum opening the night – Jenkins Auditorium at MHS.
2. Last concert – (2022) Aerosmith/Extreme at Fenway Park in Boston (Malden boy makes good).
3. Worst concert – (1978) Ted Nugent at the Boston Garden (dreadful – we were back in Malden before “Cat Scratch Fever”).
4. Loudest concert – (1994) Social Distortion at the Metro on Lansdowne Street – standing onstage (name dropping alert) with Social D’s manager Jim Guerinot right behind the drum kit reduced my hearing ability for at least two years.
5. Best Concert – (so many…) Human Sexual Response New Year’s Eve 1989/1990 at the Paradise on Comm. Ave. – Larry, Dini, Chris, Rich and Malcolm at their very best!
6. Seen the most – Extreme. From Gary’s first band Adrenaline in July of 1979 at the Pegasus Club in Ipswich to Fenway Park in 2022 (and many, many stops in between).
7. Most surprising – the Allman Brothers surprised me because they sounded so good live.
8. Happy I got to see – The Cure at Great Woods (1993?) commanding the stage from the moment they hit it until the wee small hours.
9. Wish I could have seen – Ray Charles, Sleepy LaBeef, Jerry Lee Lewis, Miles Davis, Merle Haggard, The Jam, George Harrison, Elvis, The Clash.
10. Still need to see – Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, Roxy Music, Hank Williams III, Engelbert.

More “Musings” from the inimitable pen of the late John O’Brien, whose wit and wisdom endeared him to generations of MHS students, Maldonians and faculty at MHS – as well as the inspiration for the name of this column. Here are a few more witticisms from his iconic “Musings” columns taken from a 1980 Malden Sun-Times:

• “If you get poison ivy on old MacDonald’s farm, sue Mac.”
• “Let’s pretend we’re parallel lines and never meet again.”
• “Without my joie de vivre, I’ve lost my raison d’etre, if you’ll pardon my French.”
• “When I offered her a Camel, she was happy as a Lark.”
• “Michelob the boat ashore.”
• “A square is a guy who thinks ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ is the biography of Rin Tin Tin.”
• “Eucalyptus, I’ll call Mary.”
• “Time to trundle off to bed and that’s no bunk.”
• “Don’t let a digital computer put the finger on you.”
• “My friends call me W.M.E.X. because I’m all talk.”

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Ran into old friend Joe Pagano last week at the Big Y in West Peabody. Joe grew up the next street over from me (Watts), went to school with my little sister Barbara and had a sweet left hand jump shot! Joe’s cousin was John Seminara. John passed away last week. Semma was a sweet kid, like his cousin Joe. One of John’s besties – Jeff Carroll – penned these heartfelt words: “It’s with heavy heart I announce to all ‘Friends of John Seminara’ that we have lost another brother and friend with the passing of our lifelong pal, SEM. The picture Jimmy (Molinari) posted on Facebook – it was Moe, Joe Cook, and me who knew John Seminara since kindergarten and taught him all he needed to know about the neighborhood he lived in. He taught me the Italian language. We taught him the English language so he could fit in and be one of us, so to speak. I talked with him at least once a week knowing he was having tough times. He’s in a better place than this world could offer him for sure. Like Ole Blue Eyes sang ‘regrets I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention…’ John stood tall and did things his way. That’s what I’ll miss most about him. He did things his way with no regrets. Sorry to all if you didn’t know him. Sorry again, you missed out.”
• Today (Dec 8) is the 43rd anniversary of the death of John Lennon. What!? With the holiday season sneaking up on us the real meaning of these days is often lost in the holiday buying frenzy. The season in perspective, expressed beautifully by Mr. Lennon: “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, I told them they didn’t understand life.”
• “Mr. Big Stuff, who do you think you are…” Jean Knight blessed our lives in the summer of ’71 with this funky, classic soul earworm of a song. Our beings enriched forever for that. Thank you for making our lives a lot brighter through your music, Ms. Knight. Rest in peace.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – before his journey “beyond the veil,” Joe “Joe Cal” Callinan took a short, but sweet detour into the lives of those of us at the Italian American Citizens’ Club. We were shocked and saddened by his sudden death. All agreed, we were a great deal richer knowing him. Joe Cal came to us via Somerville along with several other stand-up guys. They quickly became part and parcel to the I.A.C.C. landscape, ingratiating themselves to one and all with their Somerville swagger. I liked Joe Cal. Joe Cal was a gentle giant, possessor of a sweet soul, and he could take, as well as he could give. You are missed, my pal, Joe Cal. Wish you didn’t have to leave us when you did.

Postscript: “A girl phoned me the other day and said, ‘Come on over, there’s nobody home.’ I went over. Nobody was home.”—Rodney Dangerfield.

Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to the Malden Advocate. He can be reached at Pe*****@*ol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.