~ Malden Musings ~ Say Hello to Stella Ruth Larson

By Peter Levine

“Malden Musings” breaking news, this just in…

Welcome to the world… On October 6, weighing in at 6 lbs. 10 oz., sweet Baby Stella Ruth Larson arrived. Congratulations to Gregory and Katie Larson on their beautiful bouncing bundle of baby joy! Greg’s late dad, Eddie, would be extremely proud of his precious granddaughter, and I am positive would shower her with Grampy love. As you could tell by the picture, Uncle Kevin is overjoyed. Word has it that a baseball glove is en route for Baby Stella, and honorary Edgeworth status has already been bestowed upon her! Way to go, Greg and Katie!!

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• If you weren’t already aware – this is old news to most of the North Shore, just sayin’ – Jerry Mathers of “Leave it to Beaver” fame made a special guest appearance at Phil & Cory’s Sportsworld on Route 1. Just as a reminder, at his shop on Route 1, Phil has the very best celebrity personal appearances in the Greater Boston area. That ain’t fake news! The eclectic group of celebrities and athletes he has hired over the years to sign/meet & greet the public is simply amazing. Also, I have it from a very reliable source that Phil has helped many a former celeb who was down on his luck. Great guy, that Phil Castinetti! So, long lines waited outside to greet their childhood idol and, according to that very same reliable source, absolutely nobody left that afternoon disappointed. Sal Giarratani in the Revere Advocate gave a firsthand account of his once-in-a-lifetime meetup with the Beav. Great reading.
• Closer to home, Harry Meho’s little brother Johnny was on-site for the bucket list event. “Meats” is besties with Phil and never misses an opportunity to support the 1974 Revere High School graduate. Phil is a local treasure on the North Shore – with his place Sportsworld the last of a dying breed. Again, I digress. Take it away, Johnny: “[T]he afternoon was an overwhelming success. Jerry and his lovely wife Teresa were greeted by cheers from the crowd that had gathered before the 1 o’clock start time. The Beav smiled, signed and had a few words with everyone who came through the door, well past the 3 o’clock end time. Phil said it was one of his best autograph signings to date. I understand Phil and the Mathers enjoyed dinner in the North End later that night followed by taking in a little Feast action where Jerry was quite a hit talking with anyone who recognized and approached him. For those who missed him this time, Jerry assured Phil next year same time he would love to come back to the Boston area. Keep an eye on the Sportsworld website for autograph signings in the future.”
• Mark Gianatassio was also in the house: “Up at Sportsworld with the Beaver, Jerry Mathers. The store was packed this past Sunday to see him. What a great humble Hollywood icon he is! We took him and his wife to the North End for dinner and to the Saint Anthony’s Feast where he got to meet and greet a lot of people! He is planning to come back to Sportsworld again next year. Great to see you Beav!”
• I mentioned Malden Strongman competitor and gentle giant Dan Ford in a column a year or two back. Dan graduated Malden High School in 1992 and is as nice a kid as MHS has ever produced (with a father like George, how could he not be?!). Dan was a football star at MHS but was an even better wrestler. He won the 1992 state heavyweight wrestling championship and went on to finish second in the New England’s. After high school Malden’s “Gentle Giant” was a three-year starter at Murray State, finishing up his football career playing semipro for the “Townies of Charlestown.” He turned professional “strongman” in 2002 after placing second in a national qualifying competition the year before. He once confessed that the most daunting event in strongman comp, for him, was the “Farmer’s Walk.” This consisted of racing a 240-foot slalom course toting a 240-pound cylinder in each hand. Oh vey!! Dan is retired from the strongman competition these days and is a full-time father and iron worker but looks like it would not take him long to get back into strongman shape.
• I remember Dan as a precocious 12-year-old (a very large precocious 12-year-old). On Sunday mornings he sold Globes in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts on Highland Avenue. I would pull up on my moped with my headband on (yes, I drove a moped and wore a headband – this was the 1980s, after all), and young Dan would greet me with “Hey Rambo, wanna buy a newspaper!?” – every Sunday morning. A gentle giant at 12, a gentle giant at 45 years old.
• Dan Ford update… “Coach Bubba” can be spotted on occasion at the Italian American Citizens Club with his pops George and is at Malden Catholic full-time assisting the football program, which is on a renaissance of sorts with a 4-0 record out of the gate. His son Hayden is a star in the making at MC, and Coach Bubba wants to make sure he is there for all the fun! Best of luck, Coach Bubba!
• On another side note, Coach Bubba, my grandson Christian (Falzarano) is on the freshman team playing the safety position. Please ensure that nobody hits him too hard or hurts him. I will be eternally grateful and promise to buy all your Globes next time I see you at DD on Highland Ave. Insert smiley face.
• Also, Assistant Athletic Director Bailey Chiccuarelli! Your dad (City of Malden Human Resource Director Anthony Chic) told me I could count on you to also ensure Christian doesn’t get hit too hard. We good? LOL.
• Apropos of absolutely nothing… MC Football coach Joe Gaff has done a boffo job at MC since being hired. Helps that he married a wonderful Edgeworth girl and 1975 MHS graduate, Nancy DeCesare.
• Christian has already met MC hall monitor John “Pops” Ruelle but, of course, had no idea that Pops was one of the best athletes in Malden, back in the day. John had speed, would catch anything thrown to him and could work a count from the left side like nobody’s business. Class of 1975 along with other outstanding athletes, such as Paul Coleman, Russ Garland, Steve Carpenter, Bobby Foley, Jack Freker, Mike Scibelli, Jon Crannell, Dave Angelo, Steve Carlin, Mike Souza, Mark Burns and Jeff Sullivan.
• Chris “Keeper of the Linden Flame” Moro is Facilities Engineer at MC by day and aspiring freelance journalist by night (he of the best words). The first two episodes of his “Linden USA” to this column were smash hits – with the third installment scheduled to see the light of day by the holiday season. Chris always has your back and is one of the good ones in Malden. A full-fledged Lancer these days – and proud of it – he follows in the very large Chuck Taylor’s of his big brother Steve “Steph” Moro (another standup/legendary Malden guy).
• Speaking of MC… Edgeworth guy Roberto Di Marco has sat on the Malden Catholic Board of Trustees since 2016. Rob is lifelong Malden, graduated MC in ’91 and attended Brown University and Northeastern School of Law. Yeah, this guy is like wicked smart! I got to know Rob well over the past 10 years or so from our Edgeworth connection, and all I got to say is that my life is a lot richer for it; another Malden guy with a heart of gold and love of neighborhood.
• And of course, MC’s most famous son, since 2013 the junior Senator from Massachusetts – straight outta Townsend Street – our very own Ed Markey. Last time I spoke with Ed, big bro Joe and I were power walking the old neighborhood, and who do we run into also power walking his old stampin’ ground? Malden’s most celebrated son, “Eddie the Ice Cream Man.” Ed loved my column on Don Roach and wondered how Donny flew under his radar all these years. Ed’s the best! A walking, talking Malden history book. Fun fact told by Ed… Malden’s first hoop court back in the late ’50s–early ’60s was right there at Boy’s Catholic High School on Charles Street. Yes, MC was on Charles Street in the beginning (1936) and, according to E Mark, play on the court was ferocious. I’d love to schedule some time with Eddie to get some Malden history down on paper for future generations – but I know he is busy with one of the most important presidential elections in this country’s history just a few short weeks away. Maybe after the election, Eddie, we sit and talk Malden? Keep up the great work!

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – I am very happy to report that the elderly couple I chronicled a couple years back are still strolling  Forest Dale Cemetery and looks like just as in love. Also, walking at as fine a clip today as they were when I first noticed them. With that said, I’d like to revisit what I wrote: “The elderly couple were bundled up for the early morning chill. Holding hands tightly as they walked. Embracing as if they were starry eyed teenagers. Releasing each other only to pull out a set of field glasses. A quick glance at yet another feathered friend calling Forestdale home. They walked on; hands clasped firmly together slowly disappearing into the distance. An inspiration to behold.”

Postscript 1: “100 Years From Today;” The Spaniels wrote it, Frank (Sinatra) popularized it. A fitting tribute to this happy, loving couple; “The moon is shining, and that’s a good sign / Cling to me closer and say you’ll be mine / Remember, darling, we won’t see it shine / A hundred years from today.”

Postscript 2: Who else immediately thought of Joe Jackson’s “Happy Loving Couples” from the previous paragraph? Nobody? Oh well. LOL.

—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.