~ Malden Musings ~ Frank Says Hi Fundraiser – Nov. 30 at Irish American Club

By Peter Levine

Attention Maldonians! It is that time of the year again! It doesn’t get much more Malden than the “Frank Says Hi” Scholarship Foundation Fundraiser and that ain’t no fake news! In memory of one Malden’s very best, Frankie DeCandia from Thacher Street in Ward 2’s Edgeworth.

As we know, Malden is never short on compassion. We always turn out for a good cause! Frankie DeCandia, one of Malden’s finest young men, left us in 2008 but his memory is alive and well with the family members and friends (of which there are many) who have vowed to keep his name in our collective consciousness. “Frank Says Hi” is such a wonderful event: keeping the memory of this courageous young man alive all the while helping a deserving young person as they pursue their dreams through higher education.

Frankie DeCandia was a one-of-a-kind son, brother, cousin and friend who always had a big smile and an even bigger hug ready for everyone he knew and loved. He lived his life to the fullest, even when he was diagnosed in 2006 with a form of leukemia called CML. Although Frankie fought valiantly, he passed away from complications in April 2008 at the age of 23.

Just before he passed, Frankie asked his best friend, Jason Rossi, to tell everyone he said “Hi.” When Jason asked Frankie whom he wanted to say Hi to, Frankie said simply, “Everyone!” “Frank Says Hi” is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 to honor and remember Frank “Frankie” DeCandia. Each year the “Frank Says Hi” committee holds a fundraiser to remember Frankie and raise money for yearly scholarships. Since 2009, over $75,000 has been awarded to deserving high school seniors.

Frankie’s roots run Malden deep. His parents, Frank and Marcie DeCandia, are 1974 Malden High grads. Frankie’s sister Stephanie is a teacher at the Beebe School in Malden, and Uncle Dana and Auntie Marie Brown are well-known around town.

This year the annual “Frank Says Hi” fundraiser will be “Breakfast with Santa”! The event will take place on Saturday, November 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Irish American Club in Malden. Henry’s Catering will be providing one of their delicious breakfasts. There will be pictures with Santa, arts and crafts for children, tons of raffle prizes, and more! Tickets are available at the door – $25 for adults and $10 for kids with kids under three free.

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• So, former Cemetery Super. Jimmy Cahill was back in Malden bestowing his blessings on all his old compadres. Stinger was kicking back at the Italian American Citizens Club over a couple of adult beverages with the likes of Brian Hatch, Derek O’Brien, Eddie Casaletto, Dave Angelo and Leo. Jimmy never fails to bring a smile to our faces (and on occasion, like last week, bestow one-of-a-kind gifts – thank you again, Sir). Even better we only see him on rare occasions these days. I kid, of course. Riotous laughter broke out when this banter between Malden’s Public Works Commission Chairman Diego “Dickie” Barricelli (he of the best words and outsized personality) and Stinger Cahill (he of generous nature and bad case of “Irish Alzheimer’s”) occurred:

Jimmy: “On a good day it takes me a little over an hour to get home to Maine.”

Diego: “Bafangool!! It takes me that amount of time to get home to Glenn Street with all this (expletive deleted) construction in Malden these days!” Fuhgeddaboudit!

• Rank strangers before the advent of social media and this wonderful thing of ours, Facebook. Let’s hear from my newest FB friend, Arthur Fullman: “Great writing, Peter. I grew up in Judson Square and then the West End. Worked for a time at Judson Square Pharmacy. Had high school friends from all over the city. Many great memories of school and life in Malden. Practiced law in Malden for 40 years, then 10 more in Lynnfield. Interesting to watch the city in transition. Often used Malden as an example in the course I taught for 15 years at Suffolk University Law School on Municipal Law and Public Policy. Thanks for the memories. MHS Class of 1960.”
• Coach (Witche) Exilhomme’s Golden Tornadoes dropped a heartbreaker against Lynn Classical a couple of weeks back, 30-28, but the play of his little brother Kevin softened the blow for a short period of time. Kevin is a senior and had the best game of his Tornado career, with 7 catches for 144 yards, including 2 touchdowns – of 43 and 73 yards – and a conversion catch thrown in to boot. Way to go, Kevin!
• I have not forgotten the Jayden McGuffie interview I promised. We’re working on it as we read together.
• Separated at birth: recent retiree from the Malden Public School System Barbara Levine Scibelli and American actress and filmmaker Dyan Cannon.
• Yes, I’ve been called a “name dropping, derriere kisser” by a certain Maldonian but ya know what? Sticks and stones and all that jazz. Anyway, this one’s for you, Douglas Tran, he of All Season’s Table (AST) fame. I love Douglas. We in Malden love Douglas, the man who singlehandedly – arguably – is the one responsible for bringing Malden Square back from the verge of extinction. The Barney Kahn of 2024! The Anthony “Papa” Spadafora of Malden Square. The dynamic duo of Malden Square, Douglas Tran – and his gal Friday – Jackie Bouley, making the Square swanky again. With that said here’s what the Sunday Boston Globe Magazine had to say about AST in 2008 in an article titled “Northern Exposure – Malden just might be the hotspot waiting to happen:” “Modern Asian décor, cheery lighting, and wide-open space make AST the place for weekend cocktails in Malden. Hell, even mid-week, the bar is hopping! And why not? The drink menu is kicky and creative, and the sushi is fantastic.”
• AST had barely opened for business when these nice words appeared on May 20, 2007, in the Globe North section of The Boston Sunday Globe: “Not bad for a place with flat screens, ikebana floral arrangements, and fancy hand soap in the bathroom. When we left, Tran rushed over to say goodbye. Meredith and Jessica, he said, smiling, to prove he had remembered. And with that, we were officially charmed. Most likely, there will soon be too many customers for Tran to give us that kind of personal attention, but we’ll forgive him. We’d rather the place get busy so that is stays around for a long time.”
• Meredith and Jessica, just for the record, in 2024 I would bet my last dollar bill that Douglas would remember both your names. That is just how that cat rolls.
• Dr. Ralph Lazer Epstein, 83, of Danvers, formerly of Malden. May his memory be a blessing.
• Toby (Klasky) Bondy, 84, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Lexington, formerly of Malden. May her memory be a blessing.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – I recently ran a picture (again) on Facebook of legendary singer/songwriter/human rights activist Stevie Wonder playing at the Jenkins Auditorium back in 1973. The photo is going viral with tons of comments and remembrances of that fabled day. The photo was taken by well-known Maldonian (M.H.S. Class of 1973’s) Kenny Mazonson. Stevie did a short set of songs at the Jenkins at the behest of one of our beloved educators at the time, Mrs. Phillips. The announcement came early in the day that an “emergency gathering for the whole school” was to take place almost immediately. For some odd reason, the sophomore class was excluded – so much for the “whole school.” Once all were seated, to the delight of the student body assembled, our Principal Arthur Boyle announced from the stage that “Steve Wonder (NOT Stevie, as he was known to all) was in the Auditorium.” Stevie comes strutting down the Auditorium steps – accompanied by Mrs. Phillips – decked out in all his 1973 glory! From the story I have heard, another educator, Mrs. Clifford, had become friends with Stevie’s manager while the Class of 1973 were doing a Sickle Cell Anemia Fundraiser. Although sophomores weren’t initially invited, as soon as word spread of who was in the house, teachers soon relented, and the rest of the student body came rushing in. I had a prime seat already. I had a “study hall” across from the Jenkins, and as soon as I got wind of what was going on, I gate crashed.

Mrs. Philip’s son Brian remembers the day like this: “I was in 8th grade, only 14 at the time and I really lucked out being there. I knew Stevie was famous, but I don’t think it really hit me HOW big a deal it was till he won all those Grammys a few months later and the years that followed. I was just starting to discover music in general and my own personal taste. Sadly, I think I only have one picture and it appeared in the yearbook that year. I know there are others floating around somewhere, my mom, who orchestrated the whole thing moved in with my sister and her husband in Virginia and photos she had are probably packed away somewhere.”

Stevie played a short set. I remember being awestruck, as were most in the Jenkins that day, Stevie being one of the biggest recording artists of the day and already on his way to becoming an icon. We wanted it to last forever; it certainly does in ALL our memories, but Mr. Boyle finally took the stage and announced (and I quote), “Mr. Wonder, the boys and girls have to get back to class.”

Helen Mae (Battle) Phillips was described as a “wonderful and gracious woman” with a “gentle spirit and caring ways.” She passed away in April of 2014 at 89 years young. May her memory be a blessing.

—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.