Late Malden brothers leave $6 million to WGBH-PBS Television and Educational Foundation

Louis and Anthony Maglione left their combined life savings; largest gift in GBH history

By Steve Freker

The Maglione brothers of Malden enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, like many others in both this community and those around New England. They loved cheering on the Boston Red Sox, following local Malden politics, attending local events and watching the programming on WGBH-TV. The Magliones, Louis and Anthony, especially enjoyed watching the historical documentary shows on PBS like American Experience.

Until their health declined and, sadly, they each passed away within a year and a half of each other, Louis and Anthony – both never married – were inseparable and lived in the house at 9 Starbird St. in which they grew up, in the city’s Faulkner neighborhood.

Louis Maglione, the younger of the two Malden brothers, passed away on November 29, 2019, at 67. Anthony died about a year and a half later, at age 70, on March 12, 2021.

In addition to ingraining themselves in the Malden community and being lifelong WGBH-TV (now known simply as “GBH”) and PBS television connoisseurs and annual pledge supporters, both Maglione brothers were drawn to the stock market and apparently made some wise choices through the years. It was recently revealed that those investments by the late Malden brothers are now going to go a long way toward helping in securing the financial future of GBH and its continued programming. Together, according to their attorney, John McLaughlin, a partner at law firm Berluti McLaughlin & Kutchin, who handled Anthony’s estate, Louis and Anthony Maglione bequeathed their entire life savings – a total of $6 million between the two of them – to GBH and its mission.

With $4.5 million from Anthony and $1.5 million from Louis, it represented the largest unrestricted gift in GBH history. According to GBH spokespersons, the Magliones’ gift will support local community outreach, including events and programming at the GBH Boston Public Library Studio, innovation in content distribution, and, among other things, GBH News’ digital transformation.

Anthony Maglione was a 1968 graduate of Malden High School, and he worked at the Gillette Company in North Andover for 25 years. In his free time, he enjoyed watching baseball, particularly cheering on the Boston Red Sox. Anthony loved going to Fenway Park and had a deep knowledge of the team and its history. Anthony also had a passion for the stock market and was happy to impart investment advice to anyone he met.

“He bought conservative, dividend-paying stocks like Gillette, General Mills, and the telephone company. He didn’t buy any high-flying stocks,” McLaughlin said.

Louis Maglione graduated from the former Don Bosco High School in East Boston, where he excelled on the track team. After high school, Louis joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served during the Vietnam War era and was later discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant.

He was a graduate of Lowell College and a retired longtime employee of the federal Veterans Administration in Jamaica Plain. Like his brother Anthony, Louis was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He was a member of the Revere Italian American Post, where he served as adjutant. A voracious reader and volunteer historian at the Malden Public Library, he often carried a dictionary in case he came across a word he didn’t know. He, too, enjoyed researching stocks and investment opportunities.

“We are honored by the trust that Anthony and Louis Maglione have placed in us with this wonderful gift,” said Susan Goldberg, President and CEO of GBH, in an online release. “An unrestricted grant allows us to direct the funds in the ways that will have the most significant impact, strengthening the organization for the future and helping us reach new audiences.”

“We hope this gift will inspire others and highlight the deep level of public trust that GBH has with its audience,” Goldberg added.

According to information on its website, www.gbh.com, “GBH is the leading multi-platform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are.

“GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism.

“GBH has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards.”