~ Malden Musings ~ Ann Marie Bionelli, 1938-2025

By Peter Levine

Malden Musings is sad to report that Ann Marie (Lucia) Bionelli aka “Marie” passed away on March 14, 2025, at 86. Mother of Bobby, Kim, John and Judy – the Bionellis relocated out of Somerville in 1971 because of John’s severe asthma attacks. In a recent talk with John, he mentioned that he would have to walk up a hill to school and by the time he arrived he was in such bad shape his moms would have to come and get him and take him home. He missed 100 days of first grade. Finally, she said enough is enough, we are moving out to the country; so, they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly – Hills that is – wait, wrong family, they moved to Maldonia! That’s when they settled on Emerald Street in the shadows of the Emerson School with John finally graduating out of the second grade at age 17 (I kid, of course).

With Marie’s sister Aida already having her feet firmly planted on Medford Street, she joined the Sensales in Malden and never left. Marie hailed from Mustang Country over the Fells in Medford – Riverside Ave. Her father held odd jobs in Meffa and ended up caretaker at Walden Woods in Concord.

After her stint at Medford High School, one of her first jobs was working as a waitress at Friendly’s in Wellington Circle. Whenever Jackie Gleason would come to town to visit his pallie Frankie “Crazy Guggenheim” Fontaine, he would stop in to dine. She loved waiting on the “Great One,” as his tips were always generous.

She then went to work in Boston’s Financial District as a secretary. One of her coworkers was Norma Bionelli, who introduced her brother and future husband Bob to her, and the rest, as they say, is history. Their fairy tale romance sadly ended in 1991 with Bob’s passing.

John’s career path journey is long and storied with a stop working for the Boston-based band The Del Fuegos. One of his jobs with the band was storing their equipment when they got off tour. For convenience’s sake he would store it close to home in a storage facility on Eastern Ave. next to the PV Sports Shop. With just John making several trips up a freight elevator, he would have to leave thousands of dollars’ worth of band gear in the truck while making the trek up to the second floor. Not taking any chances with leaving the gear unattended and open to Malden’s more mischievous residents, he would recruit his mother to stay in the truck and keep watch on all those fine, expensive vintage guitars The Del Fuegos had in their stable. Marie protected the truck’s contents like a secret service agent, not letting even a guitar pick go missing.

She was tough when she had to be, but she was also a softy – letting John at age 16 roadie for the Malden-based garage rock band Boys Life but not before a severe vetting of their manager Dave (Surette). Protecting young Johnny from Boston clubland was her first priority. She done good because John survived and thrived with flying colors. Throughout her life, Mrs. B was extremely supportive of her four children and absolutely adored her grand- and great-grandchildren – more than words could express on these pages.

Marie was always excited to see my mother (Dorothy) riding her bike through the streets of Edgeworth. My moms would stop and the two would end up talking for what seemed like forever. Mrs. B would then go home and tell the kids how nice it was to have seen Dotty and how they chatted until it was time to make supper for all the kiddies. My brother David was a huge Mrs. B fan and would religiously bring her a red rose every Christmas Eve. Tradition for the Bionellis and Levines was important, and my brother David never missed an opportunity to show his love for her – his heart made of pure gold.

For the last 20 or so years, Marie made 89 Pearl St. her home – a place filled with love, laughter and countless memories. Her presence touched everyone around her, and she will be deeply and forever missed by family and friends alike. Amen.

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• I spotted 1980 Malden High School graduate Paul Lussier in a Big Y commercial! For real! That made me very happy! Retired New Hampshire enforcement officer, musician, actor; there ain’t much that Paul hasn’t done and hasn’t done well. More on Paul in the very near future. I promise.
• Ghost signs are rare in Malden. The oval Boston Leader plaque between Malden Family Dental and Hugh O’Neill’s on Pleasant Street and the gorgeous Gordon’s remnant that greets you warmly as you enter the M.A.T.V. studio (also on Pleasant Street) are excellent but, again, rare examples. None more spectacular than the Black’s Furniture old wall advertisement that is holding on for dear life on the side of the former City Hall building at 17 Pleasant St. (aka The Granada Theatre). Calling all historic minded volunteers of Malden. Bring it back to life! Get some paint, get the gang together and make this a mural that will rival Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” two blocks away. No, I don’t want to help paint it, just thought I’d throw the idea out there. LOL.
• Who else caught the quick interview on CNBC Boston with MHS Class of ’77s Johnny Furlong about his basketball relationship with his former teammate at Salem State College, New York Knicks coach Tom “Thibs” Thibodeau? Good stuff, John.
• Speaking of the Highland Café… one of the Highland’s more famous patrons was Malden Peace Officer Walter Hook, who loved his Highland beef stew, was one of the arresting officers of the alleged Boston Strangler Albert DiSalvo and also contributed to humanity the iconic Highland Café logo that we all grew to know and love. I’ll fact check that last claim with former Highland CEO Dave “Sharpest Elbows on the Hoop Court” Angelo and get back at y’all ASAP.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – I don’t mention Malden Catholic nearly enough in my columns – but let’s set the record straight: It’s not by design. Some of my best friends went to Malden Catholic! Well… actually, none of my best friends did. They were all Malden High guys, of course. But truth be told, some of the best people I admired most growing up wore MC blue and gold.

Medford’s very own Mark Cannon, for one – a one-man wrecking crew on the football field at old Brother Gilbert Stadium in the early ’70s, before taking his talents to Holy Cross. Then there’s Danny Meyers, an Amerige Park hoop deity, who made dropping 35 points a night (without the benefit of a three-point line) look like a walk in the park during his mid ’70s run at MC. The late Eddie Norton’s boys, Paul, Mike and Dave, lit up the mid-to-late ’70s sports scene at MC as well, carving out their own family legacy.

My longtime friend, hockey standout Robbie Buckley, and I go so far back that we both remember Jeff Hurley before he pulled his first prank. Long time ago! Robbie grew up tearing it up at Amerige Park before skating his way into the Salem State College Sports Hall of Fame. And speaking of guys who make you proud to call Malden home – my neighborhood paisan and longtime friend, (former) Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis, Class of ’75 at MC – is someone I can’t praise enough, both as a professional and a person. Bobby “Bull” O’Leary, Class of ’68, is another true “stand-up guy” who embodies what it means to be a good man (his younger brother Tecca ain’t a bad guy either) – I’m proud to know him/them.

And those Malden Catholic hockey teams of the ’70s? They may have been stocked with skaters from all over, but when they hit the ice, they made all of us from Malden proud to our core. So, for all you Lancer alums reading this, this one’s for you. Thanks for giving us yet another reason to puff out our chests and say, “Yeah, I’m from Malden. Not Malden High, but what the heck!” Insert smiley face.
Postscript 1: Just a friendly – and somewhat passionate – reminder: Who exactly is Marie’s little boy, John? Only the guy who’s been Aerosmith’s Road Manager for decades – the backbone behind one of the greatest rock bands America has ever produced. And yes, the very same guy I’ve been campaigning (unsuccessfully so far) to see rightfully inducted into the Malden High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

Alumni HOF Committee, I love you all (you know that), but hear me out for a second (again): We’re talking about a kid who grew up in the “shadows of the old Emerson School,” scarfed down Big A subs before he could tie his shoes and logged more hours playing street hockey in the Girls Catholic parking lot than most folks have spent breathing — and this is the guy who’s been steering the biggest, the baddest, most iconic hard rock band this country has ever produced. With all due respect, no debate.

And yet…no Hall of Fame nod? Honestly, it feels like the Malden equivalent of the J. Geils Band getting snubbed by the so-called Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

In my humble (but headstrong) opinion: Next time those doors swing open, they ought to swing wide – with John marching right through, alongside the likes of Maldonia music legends like Phil Bynoe, Gary Cherone, Marc Phaneuf and (my landsmen) Jordan Shapiro & Norman Greenbaum.

Just saying… and saying it a little bit louder this time. With all due respect, of course.

Postscript 2: It’s that time of the year again – the 4th Annual IACC/Nick Bombino American Cancer Society Memorial Bocce Fundraiser, honoring the one and only Nick Bombino! If you’ve ever been to the Italian American Citizen’s Club legendary Winter Classic, you already know the drill: Bocce? Check. Shuffle puck? Oh yeah! Mouthwatering food and perfectly poured drinks? Always and forever. Exclusive tournament tees? You bet. 50/50 raffle? Let it ride! Great energy, handsome people, and (hopefully) killer weather? Fingers crossed; sunglasses will be ready.

This isn’t just a day full of friendly competition and backyard bragging rights – it’s a heartfelt tribute to Nick Bombino, son of longtime board member Jerry Bombino and Rosalie. Nick bravely battled cancer, and we honor his legacy the best way we know how: together, in community, with all proceeds going straight to the American Cancer Society. So, grab your squad, polish those bocce balls (or just prep your drink hand) and come be part of something meaningful, memorable and just plain fun. Let’s roll for a cause. See you there on Saturday, May 17, at 9 in the morning.

—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.