~ Malden Musings ~ Don W. Quon, US Army & China Garden, at 84

By Peter Levine

He came into our lives during that glorious summer of 1978 (just in time for the Sox to implode, blow a 14-game lead and lose Game 163) and basically never left. Don W. Quon (along with sidekick, Billy) were the face and personality of China Garden on Highland Avenue from the very first moment CG opened for business right up until retirement when both handed in their chicken finger tongs. We just loved those two cats, real sweethearts, both of them! They were so personable, so likeable, so darn good-natured that they instantly became confidants and fast friends to everybody in Edgeworth and across Malden. Generations in Malden literally grew up on Number 9 plates! My friends and I would gather at CG after clubland, brag of our shenanigans that night with the dynamic duo, grab some plates and hit Johnny “Gabby” Angelo’s steps to devour our late-night feast (always cleaning up after ourselves so as not to tick Johnny off ).

Not only did China Garden serve the best takeaway Chinese food on the North Shore (and still do), but they were the first place to hear the latest neighborhood gossip circulating the streets of Edgeworth. Man, those two were good listeners, but if you wanted to keep something “in the vault,” fuhgeddaboudit!” LOL!

Don passed away recently at age 84. I hadn’t seen him in many years but my/our feelings for him and Billy never faded. I/we loved them like big brothers! I was surprised to learn so many new things about Don’s life as I scanned his obituary. In honor of Donny’s life, I share with you a very small glimpse into this beautiful man’s life:

• Donny was born October 22, 1939, in Hong Kong, one of four children to the late Gordon and S.Y. (Joe) Quon.
• He was a longtime resident of Melrose.
• He was a US Army veteran – enlisting right after high school.
• Donny and his family immigrated to the U.S.A. in 1949, when he was 10, to Inverness, Miss.
• His military service served as a source of immense pride for him – shaping his character and instilling values of patriotism, honor and loyalty. On a side note, the late Steve Bouley, who was a frequent visitor to CG with our little crew, had the exact same feelings of patriotism and loyalty to country after he served his time in the Air Force in the late 1970s. Steve loved to fly his American Flag in his front yard. By the way, each one of us still miss Bouls every single day. True fact on that one.
• Donny arrived in the Boston area the year CG opened, 1978.
• He had a deep love for fishing where he found “solace and tranquility by the water’s edge.” My note – that is fabulous!
• He lived for family gatherings, which were “always filled with laughter, love, and cherished memories.” My note: If memory serves me correctly, Donny and Billy might have joined us in a gathering of the clan at the homestead on Charles Street (The Charles Street Inn) on an occasion or two.
• His annual pilgrimage back to Mississippi allowed him to reconnect with his roots and “strengthen the bonds with loved ones” as he shared stories of his journey and “embraced the warmth of family ties.”
• Donny liked to travel! From the “serene shores of Hawaii” to the “enchantment of Disney.” My note – never would have pegged Donny a Disney guy (LOL!).
• Donny shared 53 years of marriage with Lily T. (Tam), was the father of Tammy and Don Jr. and was the brother of Shun and the late Wing O. and Dexter and the loving grandfather of Jayson and Isabella Yen.
• Services were private. Although I would have loved to have paid my respects to Donny, I really didn’t need a service to remember this dear, sweet man. Every time I drive by CG I pay my respect. I remember the good times, the always interesting small talk, that wicked personality and sense of humor (oh yeah, and the food). Every single time I drive by.

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Happy August 14 birthday to the Number One Physical Therapist at MGH Chelsea, Tricia Larson! On a side note, Trish – after (mumble, mumble) years married to one of Edgeworth’s best and brightest (and the unofficial conscience of Malden as well as Bowman Street’s most famous son), Kevin Larson, (rumor has it) – will soon be nominated for sainthood.
• San Rock Festa 2024 was a love fest to Butch Gennetti and the whole G Clan! I once again noticed what a handsome family he has! From the mother of his children Peg (whom we all adore) to his kids all the way down to the little ones, especially his grandson Robby, who walked the Procession (like a boss, btw) in Butch’s footsteps on Sunday. Thank you, Robby, ain’t no going back now. Once you’re in, you’re in! Gabba gabba hey, you’re one of us!! Insert smiley face.
• Hat’s off to WildFire and their charismatic lead vocalist (and more) Ken for packing Pearl Street to the rafters on Saturday night of the 2024 San Rock Festa. The crowd rivaled the 90th Feast when The Midtown Men closed the street down. We never imagined we’d ever get a crowd that big again. Wrong. WildFire are one of the most talented outfits around and their following is downright fanatical. Thank you, Ken, see you next year. Wanna play all three nights? Insert smiley face.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – oh what a difference four years makes! “Malden Musings” 2020 Redux; here I am, keeping it gangsta, my musings intermingled with a stream of conscience–type rant the day before my (mumble, mumble) birthday – during those dark days of Covid: “There is only so much CNN and MSNBC one can watch. Mind numbing to say the least. My Covid loneliness exposed as my crush on CNN’s Brooke Baldwin grows each day. Even after I witnessed her battle the virus bug on air…sans makeup! True love, for sure! I have pulled two ‘3 Stooges’ marathons (one Shemp, one Joe Besser)! I’ve binge watched every on-court fight during the Bird Era [I forgot about the time 7′ 6″ Ralph Sampson sucker punched 6′ 1″ Jerry Sichting in the post!]. My man crush on Governor Andrew Cuomo remains strong, regardless of his shortcomings. Daily briefings by Chris’s brother impact fully my emotional wellbeing. Haters. Do not bother. Got so bored I even purchased a boom box with a cassette deck from Montgomery Ward. I am now deep diving into all those (John Funke) ‘Backwoods’ and (Angeline Grant) ‘Coffeetime’ terrestrial radio shows (WMBR) I taped years ago in anticipation of this zombie apocalypse. Not really, I am just a rat pack. This is crazy! I have become anesthetized to time and space. Reality is the recliner, a Honey Dew dark roast, and the weekly Friday night Zoom call with those sharing this ‘Twilight Zone’ episode come to life with me (‘It’s A Good Life’ anyone?). My week complete when, on said Friday night at 5, I see Dave ‘Mr. Highland Cafe’ Angelo’s name pop up on the Zoom call. In search of a human connection like most folks today I start my morning by opening my hand-held device to the biggest waste of time since 1980’s pop culture. Yes, Facebook. First, I have a virtual coffee with the Official City of Malden page for breaking Malden news. Always good to hear from Malden’s elected officials/public servants who use common sense and sound judgement, especially in these trying times. Always with the good and welfare of all citizens in mind. Never dividing, always uniting. Thank you, Mayor Christenson, CSO Ron Hogan, Police Chief Molis, City Controller Chuckie Ranaghan and Department of Public Works Director Bobby Knox. I then troll over to ‘Malden Politics’ to see what sort of mischief Neil Kinnon is up to these days. Amusing and farcical at the same time. Pre-pandemic I loved to see what 5-star restaurant or exotic vacation Malden Police Officer George MacKay, his lovely wife Lisa, and faithful dog Marley were down with. Great Malden power couple (trio?) that family. Marley being the ‘First Pup of Edgeworth.’ I search out Cathy Leblanc’s page for the meme of the day. Always puts a smile on my (at times) dour face. On to ‘Malden, back in the day…’ for the latest fascinating post by both El Aenor or Dana Smith. Consistently gob smacked by those two and the wicked awesome research they have contributed to that wonderful page. Malden salutes you both! As a point of pride, I avoid any of the major news outlet sites that may report news of a certain cockwomble who would wreak havoc with my blood pressure if allowed to. Instead, M.H.S. 1967 graduate and local political king maker Michael Goldman’s point of view is pure gold! And he is on steady fire lately. He has a lot of ‘low hanging fruit’ as they say, to work with. Lastly, but certainly not leastly (again, don’t bother, I know that is not a word) I delight in the knowledge that I am not seeing the political pabulum/poison that some of my ‘friends’ have posted. Blocked! I could go on and on but for now, fuhgeddaboudit.”

—Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate and can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.