~ Malden Musings ~ The Robert S. McCarthy Jr. Conversation

By Peter Levine

Robert S. McCarthy Jr., he’s our man! If he can’t do it, nobody can! He’s your hardworking Ward 2 School Committee member hailing from one of the finest families to ever call Malden home. He bleeds Malden, Edgeworth, the Big A and family. Get to know him better with these words; 25 not so probing, not so hard-hitting questions to get the conversation started:

1. My full name is…Robert S. McCarthy Jr.
2. I am currently…Ward 2 School Committee member.
3. I am saving for…a new car.
4. My home is…in the Edgeworth section.
5. I love people who…are kind to each other.
6. Something I say a lot is…“Hey, how are ya?”
7. I consider myself to be… a hard worker.
8. I need to have…coffee in the morning.
9. My favorite movie of all time is…‘Miracle’ (1980 USA hockey team).
10. My all-time role model is…my dad.
11. I respect people who…tell the truth.
12. I am happy when…work gets done in a timely fashion.
13. I find (Dave Russo) funny/hilarious!
14. I am named after…my pops.
15. I have…0 kids.
16. The farthest I’ve ever been from home is…Florida.
17. My special talents are…my interpersonal skills.
18. I have…0 pets.
19. I played sports as a youngster on…regional travel hockey teams.
20. Where would you most like to buy a one-way ticket to? Ireland!
21. What person living or deceased would you like to have dinner with? My grandfather Jack Glynn or Uncle Joe (McCarthy). My note: Uncle Joe was a man I was lucky to know.
22. What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self? Work hard and stay humble!
23. What is the one thing you want to be remembered for? Kind person/hard worker.
24. Growing up in Malden, most admired or most inspirational mentor? Most admired, my grandfather, Jack Glynn!
25. Growing up, what was your favorite place to grab a slice of pizza or submarine sandwich? Big A!

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• One of my favorite people of all time — Newland Street’s MaryAnn “Smitty” Smith — speaks shortly after attending a girls’ softball mini-reunion: “Malden was home to a thriving Women’s Softball League during the 1970s and 1980s, alongside a Men’s League, featuring exceptional athletes from the area. On warm summer nights, the atmosphere was lively, with spectators and friends invited to ‘grab a six pack and come watch some awesome softball.’ The league featured talented players from Malden and surrounding communities like Melrose, Everett, Medford, Wakefield, and more. Some of the women in the photos (on Facebook) played in the league, forming lasting connections and showcasing their remarkable skills. We played a tough, straightforward brand of softball, unencumbered by hair ribbons, makeup, or elaborate eye shadow. Yesterday’s lunch reunion was a delight, and it was wonderful to reconnect with everyone. Those were truly some of the best times of our lives, love you all.”
• Another sad day in Malden history as Congregation Agudas Achim–Ezrath Israel bids adieu to their longtime home on Bryant Street for a new, smaller location on Florence. Mayor Gary Christenson, sexton Wayne Freedman and Rabbi Mark Newton made it official on (I believe) Sunday, August 31, as the Torah scrolls were carefully removed and packed for crosstown travel. Mazel Tov.
• I ran into a fan of this column, one Denis Taylor, at City Hall last week. His dad was a bartender at the Highland Café. Thank you for the kind words, Denis, it is appreciated. More on the Taylors at a later date.
• The IA Labor Day Road Race (5K Division) results continue…Al Macy finished 61st, Mayor Gary Christenson finished 62nd at 30.46 with 9.52 miles, Edgeworth’s Mike Scibelli finished 64th at 30.46 with 9.54 miles, Green Street’s Donny “Spidder” Lockhart came in 85th at 33.14, and Julie Galvin was 93rd with 34.33 miles. Great job, folks!!
• Marvin Hoffman, 89, of Boynton Beach, Florida, formerly of Malden and Marblehead. According to his obit, Marvin had baseball skills, earning him an invite to a NY Yankees tryout. May his memory be a blessing.
• I recently mentioned the exceptional pie that Joe Crowley and his outstanding crew pump out at Pisa Pizza. I can personally attest to that by the small cheese with onions and peppers, extra sauce I ordered last Friday night! Bafangool! It was SO good. Anyway, I may have given the impression that PP was the only joint in Malden serving great pie. My apologies if you got that impression. We are a city with many fine choices for good pizza. It would be criminal of me not to mention Pearl Street Restaurant and the 621 Tavern & Grille as two other places in M-Town that serve outstanding pie. Try them, you will not be disappointed! Not. One. Bit!
• Many thanks to the Gordon Food Service truckdriver who was kind enough to move his monster truck for me in a timely fashion after boxing me in on Pleasant Street last Friday morning. So, I park across the street from the Granada Theatre then run across the street to play my number at Store 33/One Stop Mart (the same number I have been playing since 1978 with no luck so far, a story for another time). I returned within minutes to find a truck that stretched from the Granada almost to All Season’s Table neatly boxing me and about eight other cars in. The young man unloading with an electric pallet jack could not have been nicer and agreed to move the truck immediately. Thanks again, sir! I was in a hurry to go nowhere, but you made my day with your understanding and cooperation.
• By the way, doncha just love the gentleman (proprietor?) who works the front counter at One Stop Mart? Good people, as we used to say down the “connah.”
• Apropos of nothing… Happy 58th anniversary to the release of what many hail as one of the defining films of the 1960s, “In the Heat of the Night,” starring the incomparable Sidney Poitier alongside Rod Steiger. The film became one of my favorites the first time I witnessed, “They call me Mr. Tibbs!!” Gobsmacked I was as I watched this scene unfold — many years ago — on the third floor on Charles Street! Powerful words uttered in a vastly different world than today. The “slap heard round the world” cemented my lifelong love affair with this movie and Mr. Poitier. His presence, his strength and his ability to command truth through a single line forever tied me to this masterpiece, a film that spoke boldly to its time and still resonates powerfully today.
• As Rocket J. Squirrel once said, “And now it’s time for another special feature” … great call received last week in my role as Clerical Administrator in Ron “The Hoganator” Hogan’s Parking Department! The caller said there was an unwanted car parked in his parking lot at 302 North Main St. After I told him there is no NORTH Main Street in Malden, he questioned whether I know my job and the streets of Malden or not. I assured him I am familiar with Malden as a longtime resident, but he insisted that his car dealership is at 302 N Main St. and there was a car parked there illegally. Cue Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” as cow bells go off when he mentions a car dealership at 302 N Main St. I ask where exactly he is calling from, he says Mauldin, South Carolina! Seems he called information, they transferred him 947 miles away to Malden, Mass. We had a hearty shared laugh as I wished him well and good luck. FYI…Mauldin, S.C. has a population of 29,746, is 12 square miles, and its most famous resident is Kevin Garnett.
• Happy birthday to Craig Spadafora (10/8), Beverly Curry (10/10) and Mariana DiMarco-Cavuoto (10/11).
• Lois Cucinotta passed away on August 14th of this year. She was a lovely woman who, although I hadn’t seen her in many years, my memories of her and her wonderful husband Peter are held near and dear to my heart. Rest peacefully, Lois.
• I was rapping with my good pal Chris “Keeper of the Linden Flame” Moro, and in between searching out the last existing bottles of Ballantine Ale for me and being second in command as Vice President of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (Mass. Chapter), he is busy writing his memoirs. Expect entertaining tales of yesteryear Linden and much more when he finishes (Chris says there will be “no dirt!”). Chris gave me some little-known Steve Moro trivia when he mentioned that Steph ran 26 Boston Marathons during his life! Twenty-six!! Who knew!?
• Look for a great story from Chris having to do with an encounter with Red Sox legend, the late, great Johnny Pesky.
• I remember Larry Amoroso from the old Y. I became friends with Larry while playing many games of hoop in that tiny room at the old Y we lovingly called a “basketball court.” We cherished every second of our time spent on that small piece of parquet. It was the best of times! Larry brought intensity to the game — tough to cover. I always liked Larry on my team as opposed to having to cover him and his tricky left hand. I was saddened to hear of Larry’s passing on July 24. Larry was a really good guy, and on the dance floor I heard Tony Manero had nothing on him! You will be missed, my friend.
• I hear through the Edgeworth grapevine that there is an interesting story to be told floating around Maldonia that must be brought to daylight. It has to do with one of the best hoopsters to ever call Malden home (Louise Arthur’s husband Buddy), one of the best hoopsters to ever suit up for the Celts (Larry Bird) and our very own Italian American Citizen’s Club. Stay tuned for details.
• Happy belated birthday to Cindy Burgess-Kelly (9/28), Timmy Carey (9/27) and Jamie Forbes (9/27).

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — if you’ve been reading me for a while, you already know my columns aren’t exactly “Meet the Press.” They’re more like “Meet me at the I.A.C.C. and let’s swap a few stories.” If you’re looking for hard-hitting investigative journalism that shakes the foundations of City Hall, I hate to disappoint you — but my shovel only digs deep enough to plant a few tomato plants.

Now, every so often, I’ll dabble and interview a local politician (see above) or a hopeful candidate, but let’s be clear: I’m not asking them to break down tax codes or recite zoning ordinances. My mission is simple: humanize them a little, maybe get a chuckle or two. Think of me as Malden’s unofficial ambassador of softball questions. In fact, over the past 15 years or so I’ve floated more softballs than Scott Rutledge and Donny Boyce combined — and those two practically made an Olympic sport of it.

So, to the Maldonian who grumbled about my Steve Winslow interview — next time you spot Steve (and trust me, you can’t swing a Big A meatball sub without hitting him somewhere in this city), feel free to pepper him with the hard-hitting, life-or-death questions you think I missed. Consider it my gift to you. No thanks necessary.

As for me, I’ll keep bringing you a column that proudly embraces the art of “nothingness”: everyday Malden observations, trivial nonsense, esoteric Maldonia minutia. Jerry Seinfeld would be proud — this is, after all, a show/article about nothing… with just enough Maldonian flavor to keep it saucy (like a Big A saucy sub at 35 cents back in the old days?). Insert smiley face, raise a glass of Ballantine Ale, carry on and (channeling my inner Malden School Supt. the late great Paul Phaneuf) “very well.”

—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.