~ Malden Musings ~ Congratulations, Barbara Scibelli

By Peter Levine

Malden High School took two devastating hits within the last 16 months with the retirement of both Judi Sullivan and now Barbara Levine Scibelli. The following may look familiar, but the sentiment is still straight from my heart. Barbara Levine Scibelli has left the building… In an era when mediocrity is celebrated, empty suits and suit pants are elected and the average are given acclaim – then there’s little sister Barbara. The real deal. Barbara Scibelli, an influencer before such a dreadful word started giving us nightmares; before we started handing out the aforementioned acclaim like participation trophies; then there is Barbara Scibelli with a heart of gold passionately worn for all to see on her fashionable sleeve her whole darn life. Then there’s Barbara Scibelli, who in her role(s) at Malden High School touched the hearts, minds and souls of generation after generation of both children and staff alike, not just by showing up but by putting in the hard work – day in, day out, year after year. All the while, with her husband Mike, raising three of the most beautiful children – Jeri, Toni, and Anthony – Malden has ever seen. There will be no Barbara Scibelli walking through the doors at 77 Salem St. anytime soon. We are – again – much poorer as a city for that. On your retirement, Barbara, I’d like to speak for Malden once again and express our collective thank you, congratulations and Mazel Tov. Malden will keep you forever. Barbara, from our hearts to yours, thank you for making a difference, both big and small.

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Malden let’s get in front of this. The Malden High School Alumni Association & Hall of Fame (HOF) is in its infancy; a group of them, led by (the late) Joanne Iovino and Diane Lind, admirably supported by many more, started the organization back in 2007, in conjunction with the celebration of MHS’s 150th birthday. Last time around there was some discussion of no women being elected to the HOF class. But historically speaking, that has not been the case. Dana Brown and I feel very strongly about the yeoman’s work the committee has put in organizing this HOF, and both of us hope that more Maldonians will eventually get involved in the nomination process. So, if you know of a worthy female candidate, please nominate her next time around. We are not in an official capacity with the Association, but we do appreciate what they have accomplished. And congrats to all who have been enshrined in the past, men and women. For the record the following women are in the Hall: Heather Kahn, Judge Emma Fall Schofield, Marie Colantuoni Coyle, Paula Sneed, Diane Portnoy, Virginia Yardumian, Diana Cataldo, Teresa Ciccolo Prince, Carol Grossman, Joanne Assetta Iovino, Nancy Finkelstein, Noreen Grice and Sandra Velleman.
• With presidential politics in the air, “Malden Musings Quote of the Week” comes from our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln: “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.”
• Occasionally, “Malden Musings” attempts to “discover” new music. Not today’s dull, uninspired pabulum but some long-forgotten vinyl masterpiece buried away by the passage of time and fads. This week’s slice of musical heaven is 1939’s “Fine and Mellow” sung and written by Billie Holiday. “Fine and Mellow” was famously performed by her in a 1957 television special, “The Sound of Jazz,” a wonder to behold and only a few mouse clicks away.
• Please keep this between us ardent “Malden Musings” readers, but a fast-spreading rumor pinballing through all eights wards is that 66-year-old Billy Smeglin will be making a hardball comeback in 2025. Smegs started playing/pitching at age seven and has never looked back. Keep your eyes glued to this column for further updates and breaking news on this amazing Malden athlete. Oh yeah, did I mention he was Edgeworth born and bred?
• What a pleasant surprise when Neal Anderson walked through the door looking 20 years younger since he left politics. Neal and the Parking Department’s newest sensation, the guy who injected that much-needed jolt of youth into the department, 56-year-old Sean “Shue” Shuemate, were getting together for a coffee and to catch up on life. Great seeing you, Neal “The Original Mr. Big Stuff” Anderson.
• Happy October birthdays to Maldonians Sheldon Mover, Priscilla MacVicar Perrigo, Barbara Walsh Murphy, Bobby Trodden, Susan Boomhower, Pete Robinson, Gerry O’Donnell, Debbie Gray-Silvestri, Dennis Vetree and Teddy Flanagan.
• Great to hear from old friends like 1977 MHS grad Bobby “Jonesy” Jones aka “Jeep”: “Peter very good commentary of life growing up in Malden. It was a great time to be young. As for me on a personal note, I was lucky to experience a lot of these different areas of our city. Growing up just east of Malden Square on Almont St. off Eastern Ave. in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood but going to Beebe in my Junior High years. Getting to meet guys like you in the Edgeworth area and down at Devir Park for Beebe football practices in ’71 and ’72. Eventually practicing at Amerige Park ’73. It was a culmination of knowing people from different ethnic groups from where I lived. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Living here in the South now, I am living with a mixture of people from all over the country and the world. Which has opened my eyes to many more experiences that keep coming every day.”
• Extra special October 22 happy birthday wishes go out Johnny “King of Cool” Molinari. One of those friends where time stands still and we are 20 something again whenever we see each other. More charisma, more panache, more personality, more charm than one person should be allowed to have. Love ya, big guy!

“Sherman, set the Wayback Machine to…”

• Who remembers…when Malden had a thriving Jewish population with names like Misler, Motzkin, Ruderman, Goldman, Rubin, Solomon, Seltzer, Ross, Slavin, Robbins, Kahn, Slaine and Sager to name but a very few. Suffolk Square the center of Malden’s Jewish community/heart and soul for many years until Urban Renewal came rearing its ugly head.
• Who remembers…when Mooney Pond on Princeton Road was a special hangout where you could walk along the edges of the pond, inhale clean fresh air, sit on the huge boulders at the far edge of the area and hide amongst the dense trees. In winter you could ice skate, play hockey or just slide around for fun. It was a vernal pool of sorts, a natural spring that ran off onto Eric Place, which, on paper, is a “street” off Cherry Street (thank you to Malden Police Officer Noelle Bowie-Pierce’s mom [MHS 1975] Kim Bowie Sterrett for this).
• Who remembers…that summer day in 1956 when (then) Vice President of the United States (and future disgraced 37th President) Richard Milhous Nixon visited our very own Malden Square? A bandstand was erected almost in front of the Granada Theatre opposite The Palace of Sweets on Pleasant Street where a throng of Maldonians enthusiastically welcomed Tricky Dick, many of them present to also cheer on other local politico types sitting with him. Seated on the dais with Nixon that long ago day were Leverett Saltonstall (now former Governor/Senator), Christian A. Herter (now former Governor/Secretary of State), Atty. Edward J. Bushell, Republican City Committee Chairman Atty. Michael DeMarco and Melrose Mayor Lawrence Lloyd.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – former MHS Principal Dana Brown speaks from up on high: “Barbara Scibelli…a mainstay in the Main Office of Malden High School for many years. Barbara took the circuitous route to the Main Office with stops as a MHS House Paraprofessional and MHS Athletic Office Administrative Assistant along the way. She thrived everywhere, but I was happy to have her in the Main Office. Along with Judi Sullivan, they were the ‘Main Office Dream Team’ of sorts. When I reflect on my time at MHS I can’t believe how blessed I was to have both alongside me. When I think of Barbara I think of her incomparable contributions to the high school. Many, if not all, were never publicly recognized. That wasn’t her style. As the great Ron Janowicz would often say; ‘we’re here for the kids;’ Barbara lived up to that mantra as well as anyone. Special Olympics, Captains Council, and Unified Sports, just to name some; all major programs at MHS that benefited students, and some of our most vulnerable students…none of these programs would have existed at MHS without Barbara’s advocacy and tenacity. We shared a motto in our work ‘Example is Leadership.’ Barbara lived this. She talked the talk and walked the walk. She did it without fanfare, often deflecting any praise to others. Barbara looked after the students at MHS in her own quiet and strong way, offering words of wisdom and encouragement when needed or a gentle rebuke when warranted. She celebrated with students on their successes and mourned the tough losses with others. She listened; a great strength among many she possessed. There is no better compliment for me to hand out than this; a kind and authentic Barbara Scibelli showed up all the time for others. She was there for the students, the staff, the school, and me. She was in early and stayed late. She gave selflessly. She will be sorely missed. Barbara, congratulations on your retirement.”

Postscript 1: Anne Frank wrote: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Barbara has lived this quote every single day of her life.

Postscript 2: Barbara, just because you are retired doesn’t mean you have to prepare any of your special “care packages” for me stuffed with your famous chicken cutlets and meatballs… insert hungry face,

—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.