~ Malden Musings ~

Tales from Billy Settemio Revisited

By Peter Levine

Speaking of Billy Settemio…Hipsters, flipsters and finger poppin’ daddies, have I got a story. I’ve told this one before (I think), but it is so darn good, so devilishly delightful, I’m telling it again. For fans of Malden trivia — no matter how offbeat or wonderfully pointless — this one’s a good one, courtesy of our very own local legend, the original woofa goofa mamma toofa & one great coogly moogly, the late, great Billy Settemio. Known as much for his storytelling (tall and otherwise) as for his enduring love of Edgeworth (and wife Michelle, of course), Billy dropped a piece of classic Malden lore that’s too good not to share (yes, again).

Billy’s got a backstory that’s the stuff of Malden legend. But that is for another day. Here’s the deal: Before he was running the show at the I.A.C.C. and marrying up in life, he was (along with his brother Dommy “I’m an Italian Gold Wearin’ Stallion” Settemio) the proud owner of Stadium Café, an iconic institution that moved from its original Medford Street haunt (Lucy and Bill Marinelli’s place) to the spot that would later become Bambino’s, John Brewer’s Tavern and now vacant (?).

There was one night around Christmas time in the late 1970s when things got pretty interesting. In walks a familiar Medford regular with none other than the “Red Rocker” himself — Sammy Hagar. This was Sammy in his pre-Van Halen, post-Montrose days, likely in town for a solo gig at The Channel in Southie. He was famous, sure, but he hadn’t yet hit the mega-stardom that would come a few years later with his battle cry “I Can’t Drive 55.” According to Billy, the night was a blur of much fun and loud laughter, the kind of night that sticks in the memory, even if the details get a bit hazy.

So, for Malden trivia buffs, there you have it: a brush with rock royalty right at Stadium Café on Highland Ave., long before Hagar was tearing up the charts with Van Halen and long before Billy met the love of his life, Michelle.

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Here’s wishing former Assistant Director of the Department of Public Works and current Interim Director of the Public Works Department, Paul Meyers, the best of luck in his new role. He’s got big shoes to fill but word on the street says this kid got game and will be a fine DPW Director for Malden’s future. Congratulations again, Paul, best of luck!
• The headline in the Jewish Journal screamed, “Local political maven to speak at Temple Emamu-El!” Yes, MHS Alumni HOF from that much heralded class of 1967 did what he does best and on February 8 wowed the crowd in Marblehead with his sage political insight, all the while captivating the audience with that sparkling Michael Goldman personality! Details to follow.
• Teddy Spinale, may you rest in eternal peace. Out of the ashes of the old West End of Boston came plenty of good people looking for a new beginning — a place to plant roots. We made out bigly when the Spinales of the West End chose Malden as their place to grow old in. Teddy R. Spinale was the youngest of the eight boys, graduating from Malden High in 1983. Teddy, like each and every one of his brothers, made an inedible mark on Malden, each one a stand-up guy! From working summer camp as a teen at Camp Madaca, to U Mass-Amherst, to working at the Palace in Saugus and the Poor House on Boylston Street in Boston, to running Demarco/Rosebud Farms in Malden, to his final gig working for Republic Service — Teddy brought his wonderfully unique personality and positive outlook on life to each and every endeavor he pursued. My sincerest condolences to his family and especially to my good friend, his brother Frankie.
• We were talking point guards who were tough to cover from when we used to run the courts and gyms of Malden back in the day, and the name that came up often was bartender to the stars Billy Nolan. Billy was a Green Street Park boy and may have been the best of the bunch. Danny “Cha Cha” Lynch as well as his brother Jerry were standouts along with Brad Snow, Mark “Choppah” Chopelas and both of Billy’s younger brothers, Kevin and Steve. I was introduced to Green Street Park–style ball back in 1977 when Larry “Leezard” Gilbert, Danny Lynch, and Frankie Curley caught me under the basket and quickly reminded me why it ain’t such a good idea to stop your dribble under the basket, especially at Green Street Park. Insert smiley face.
• In last week’s Advocate, Steve Freker did what Steve Freker does best, paying tribute to outgoing DPW Director Bobby Knox in grand old Maldonia fashion! Well done, Frek, once again! Keep up the great work!!

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — what you have been reading is the new and improved, slimmed down version of your favorite column about nothing, “Malden Musings.” I heard ya loud and clear, Maldonia! Enough relentless bloviating! Enough self-aggrandizing! Enough pointless drivel! I get it. Folks told me to trim the fat but to always “be best” and whatever you do, do not cut down on stuff about Edgeworth! Insert smiley face! In the old days, my mother — God bless her honesty — told me my columns were so long she’d read halfway through, take a power nap, have a sandwich, maybe catch a weather report, then wake up refreshed to tackle the final hundred words or so. She said it lovingly. I think. I am having a little fun here, but truth be told the articles will be a shade shorter for the foreseeable future. Consider it sorta like portion control (which those who know me, know I know nothing about). Same flavor, slightly smaller serving size. It’s all good — before you know it, I’ll be boring the daylight out of each and every one of you once again with my long-winded diatribes of Maldonia nothingness. Because at the end of the day, this column has never really been about nothing. It’s about us: the neighborhoods, the characters, the laughter, the memories — and yes, even the occasional long-winded diatribe.

Postscript: Those who are wondering who Jimbo Cahill is, he was the former Superintendent of Cemeteries in Malden; now residing in Maine with his lovely wife, “The Fabulous” Judy. Jimmy — he of the very large brain — Cahill may be living the life of a retired gentleman golfer these days and all but forgotten in Malden, but in these here 1,200 or so words, Jimmy “Like, Very Smart” Cahill will never be forgotten.

—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.