~ Malden Musings ~ Happy Birthday, Carl Gasparello

By Peter Levine

“Oh, happy day! Oh, happy day!” — belted out in my best Edwin Hawkins Singers voice while navigating the aisles of Market Basket in Revere last Saturday morning. And who should I stumble upon, just after snagging one of the best-looking roasted chickens I’ve ever laid eyes on (and at the steal of $4.69!)? None other than my old West Wyoming Street “Coffee Time” buddy, the legendary birthday boy from Malden High School Class of ’53 — Bob and Bill Gasparello’s brother, Carl!

Gobsmacked I was! There he stood, the handsome, timeless face of the Marine Corps Sergeant exuding the same calm dignity that had always commanded respect. And as we reached out to shake hands, he remembered my name! Let that sink in: After years apart, Mr. G remembered me. That, my friends, was special.

I’ve cherished those mornings in that tiny breakfast nook in Melrose, sipping coffee and soaking in the wisdom, humor and grace of “Uncle Gas” (as well as the cast of Melrose characters that also took coffee there). A man of integrity and heart, Carl left an indelible mark on me, one coffee cup at a time.

Happy 90 trips around the sun, my friend! You look marvelous, you carry yourself like a legend, and I hope your day was filled with all the joy you so richly deserve. Love ya, big guy!

For those who admire the big guy as much as the rest of us do, a few Carl Gasparello factoids…

• Besides being an OG-CG was a Mechanical Engineer for Dymo Business Industries and for many years also owned Lyons Liquors on Ferry Street — next door to Goldman Funeral Chapel (I remember many a menacing glance from Mr. G as a youngster trying to purchase Schlitz at Lyons. I still have nightmares of that intimidating glare — LOL).
• When not working as a workaholic, Carl loved to camp at Russell Pond with brothers-in-law and all the cousins. Epic were his many cruises to Bermuda with brother Billy and wife Elena!
• “Uncle Gas” to the Giannattasios, Connors, the Kellys of Malden, the Driscolls of Melrose and Uncle Carl “Jr.” to Jim Gasparello and Lisa Gasparello/Casaletto and Deanna Gasparello.
• A man with a heart of gold and a love for humanity, Carl gave much back to Malden, working on political campaigns for such local progressive legends of yesteryear David S. Liederman and Ken Desmond.
• CG’s four children: Carla (husband Marko Duffy of the Andover Duffys — he the son of the legendary Ballantine Ale drinking father, Brendan); Mark (passed in 2016/wife Denise Cimino) of Boxford; Scott (husband Guy Busa) of P Town; and Phillip (of Melrose).
• His beloved four grandchildren: Geena & Marina Duffy, Olivia Connors Gail and Nicolette Brady (husband of Brendan); his two wonderful great-grandchildren: Colin & Chloe (Brady).
• Now that you are all caught up, I have the distinct feeling we haven’t even scratched the surface of the life and legacy of this extraordinary man named Carl Gasparello. Again, happy birthday, Carl! Let’s have coffee again in the very near future.

“Eenie meenie chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak.” Due to overwhelming demand, I bring to you one last time: “Said no one(s)…”

• Travelling behind one of those Republic Services stink buckets in the summertime is one of life’s more pleasurable experiences…said no one.
• Republic Services employees — especially those who ride the back of the stink bucket — are grossly overpaid…said no one.
• The Kinks’ 1975 classic “Schoolboys in Disgrace” is not very good and is unlistenable…said no one.
• Republic Services pay their employees/trash collectors a fair hourly wage and have stellar labor protections…said no one.
• This past year, Craig Spadafora hasn’t put his heart and soul into his job as Councillor-at-Large…said absolutely no one!
• The flower bed at the corner of Webster and Maplewood is not pleasing to the eye and looks like no hard work was put into the display…said no one.
• The Malden Summer Concert Series wasn’t good, and the music was dreadful…said absolutely no one.
• The annual San Rock Festa was a total bummer and a big disappointment…said no one.
• Republic Services is making (former owner) Jimmy Motzkin and the legacy of JRM Hauling proud, handling their employees fairly and equitably…said absolutely no one!
• Facebook’s Malden Network News is the proud descendant of the exalted and much beloved Malden Evening News…said no one.
• Former City of Malden ARPA Guru Stephanie M. Burke is not missed by Malden or her paisans in the Parking Department…said no once.
• It is said in “Malden Musings”…
• Hear ye, hear ye!! Going forward Timmy Buckley’s Revere Beach Power Walking Gang of Four will officially have names. No longer will they be nameless, faceless, power walking afterthoughts. Drum roll please…Maria Moreschi’s brother Johnny, Ronny & Dickie Drinkwater’s little brother Freddy, Danny Connelly and Tommy “Stiddles” Littlewood — go forth, young men, and represent Maldonia the only way youse guys know how: proudly with heads held high (do not be tempted by Kelly’s Roast Beef!). Now back to our regularly scheduled programs.
• Speaking of Revere Beach — on a sun-splashed Sunday morning in July, big brother Joe and I stumbled right into a living, breathing Who’s Who of Maldonia. First up, none other than House Minority Whip herself, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, alongside her better half Rodney, who were toasting 33 years of marriage. (And in true Bostonia style, KC rocked a vintage Larry Bird #33 jersey — because, of course, how else do you mark such an occasion?)
• Just a few sandy steps later, we encountered the incomparable Mike Gilligan. Honestly, the Gilligans might just be the first family of kindness — every single one of them an original, with their own quirks and charm. Maldonia should hand out “thank you for being Gilligans” bumper stickers!
• And then — Lawdy, Lawdy, Miss Clawdy — like a plot twist from a Scorsese flick, we heard this unmistakable greeting: “Malden [expletive deleted]!” Who else but Angelo Sciacchi, retired MPD legend, delivering his signature hello. Retirement clearly suits him — he looked sharp, relaxed and absolutely in his element at “Reveah Beach.”
• Lordy, Lordy, Lordy!! Where DO the years go!! Happy 37 years of wedded bliss to those two love birds from Emerald Street, Mary Rose (Brown) and Tony Spadafora. No two finer human beings walking the streets of Malden than Tony and his inamorata, Mary Rose! Congrats to you two love birds and here’s to the next 37!
• I remember meeting Tony for the first time at Beebe as a 7th grader. Tony, Keith Powers and Bobby “Bottles” Esposito got into some sort of brouhaha with my best friend, Jimmy Damiano, settling the matter as most kids did in those days, going fist city before becoming best friends for the rest of their lives.
• Reasons to be cheerful, Part 1… Welcome to this great big, beautiful world of ours, Kim Bowie’s very first grandchild, Ayda. Benjamin Pierce’s baby girl Ayda is a beautiful child who has a striking resemblance to her famous auntie, Malden Police Officer Noelle Bowie-Pierce! But make no mistake, by the photo I saw of her, that baby has her grammy’s heart and soul of which Kim was famous for. Kim was a 1975 MHS graduate and was one of those back in high school who was a step or two ahead of most everybody else. While we were still reading Mad Magazine, she was reading Yates. While we were listening to Grand Funk Railroad, she was listening to Lou Reed and Joni Mitchell. While we were still shopping at Sparks, she was shopping at hip and cool kid central, Slack Shak (I took literary liberties with these analogies, and I hope Kim didn’t mind — LOL). But I digress…. Welcome, Ayda, with your family history, I know for certain you will make a difference in this world.
• Benjamin is a civil engineer at Hansom AFB after serving eight years in the US Air Force; his brother Justin is a Malden firefighter at Ladder 3 on Pearl Street (across the street where the Elmwood Pharmacy and Bobby “Bay Bob” Esposito’s house once stood) — Justin also gave back to his country and society at large, doing six years in the US Navy. Damn! That is an impressive Maldonia family! More to follow on little Ayda.
• Most of Maldonia already knew I was speaking of Dave Angelo (lord knows I’ve written about his sharp elbows enough in the past) last week when I presented part one of my San Rocco Feast review article. In error I omitted his full name even after reading and rereading the article at least 100 times before submitting it. Good golly Miss Molly! Ain’t easy getting old! In case you missed it, this is what I wrote, and it is about my lifelong paisan and another Malden employee that works (and has worked) harder than most people should — Eric Rubin’s best hire (there, I said it) — Dave Angelo: “Extra special San Rock Shout Out to the man not only with the sharpest elbows in Edgeworth but to the dude that kept the Friday night IACC unwashed masses happy with the quick service he is known for as bar keep! He manned the air, he rammed the ramparts, he took over the airports, he did everything he had to do at the IACC under the San Rocco rockets’ red glare to make sure his customers got their High Noon’s in a timely manner. And he had nothing but victory after victory as his tip jar will attest to. Ain’t NOBODY better behind the stick besides possibly Greg Lucey! Yes, that Greg Lucey! Dave, we salute you.”

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — don’t get me wrong, Maldonia — I love the Malden River as much as the next nostalgic townie. I mean, I was there in 1981, behind Anthony’s, when Neal Spadafora reeled in what I swear was the first fish I ever saw… with seven eyeballs. True story. (Well, Malden true.) Sure, the river runs rich — both in history and deeply personal weirdness, but let’s not forget that for a good hundred years (give or take a few toxic decades), Malden’s nastiest factories (hello Converse, Lewis Candy, etc.) dumped more gunk and legacy pollutants into that poor body of water than you could count on both hands. By the 1980s, local pundits had written the river’s obituary for the year 2525. (Yes, that’s a pop culture reference that really didn’t fit, but what the heck — who caught it?)

But I digress. I once witnessed, with my own horrified eyes, a Brother Gilbert Stadium Carnival-era Dave (last name withheld to protect the guilty) perform acts of such drunken depravity in those very waters, they set the environmental movement back decades. This was 1972, good people. Earth Day had barely gotten off the ground. LOL.

But I digress…again. (Hey, I’m on a roll.) Now listen, anyone who tells you they moved to Malden because of the Malden River — especially while running for public office — deserves a solid side-eye and a slow clap from the fact-checking deities. Beware and be skeptical, very skeptical. That kind of campaign rhetoric would fuel late-night monologues (or at the very least, a Facebook thread) for weeks in a just world.

So please, Maldonia, if someone tries to sell you that fish tale… I’ve got a lovely bridge in Brooklyn I’d be happy to let go for a very good price. Insert the snarkiest, smuggest smiley face you’ve ever seen — right here (for those who get it).

—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.