~ Malden Musings ~ Happy Trails to DPW Director Bobby Knox

By Peter Levine

Breaking sad news coming out of the corner office at City Hall. One of the City of Malden employees who eats, sleeps and drinks Maldonia is leaving these here five square miles for greener pastures. Yes, Mr. Dependable hisself, Bobby Knox, Director and much more at the DPW, will be taking his considerable skill set over to Everett to help our neighbors to the south usher in a new era for the Crimson Tide. I’ve known Bobby and his family for many years, and yes indeed, all the good things said about him/them are the stone-cold truth. Word on the street is the folks at the DPW are taking this very hard. We’re gonna miss you Bobby — which is the understatement of the year.

Our Honorable Mayor (Gary) Christenson sent this missive out last week: “Over the course of my 14 years as Mayor I’ve worked with so many high-quality individuals who care about this City as if it’s part of their family. They become more than co-workers, they become friends. The hardest part then becomes when they come across an opportunity that they can’t pass up and leave the organization.

“Yesterday, Bobby Knox shared with me that he would be leaving the City of Malden as DPW Director to take on a similar but more expansive role in Everett. I’m happy for Bobby because I know with new challenges comes growth, excitement, learning, and a renewed sense of energy. That said, Bobby has truly been an irreplaceable part of my team over the past 14 years. He has truly put Malden first, in a way that I’m sure his wife will tell you hasn’t always been her favorite thing. I truly can’t be more grateful for what he’s given to this City, working 24/7 to make it a better place to live.

“As he has always done, Bobby continued to put Malden first in telling Everett that he needed to give Malden a long runway before leaving. As a result, he will be with us into the first week of February. More will follow of course to appropriately thank Bobby for his over 30 years of dedication to Malden. In the meantime, if you see him, please congratulate him, thank him, and wish him nothing but success in his new role because he’s earned that from all of us.”

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Suffering succotash! In the time waits for no man department…congratulations to Mike and Barbara Scibelli on 40 years of wedded bliss. Most times I kid with that “wedded bliss” jazz but in the case of Barbara and Mike, believe me, it has been 40 years of true wedded bliss. Three beautiful children who most of you know (Jeri, Toni and Anthony), many lifelong friends and more happiness and joy in their lives than sorrow, Mike and Barbara are truly blessed. Congratulations and boy, do I feel old!
• Last weekend I hit the daily double of good luck! First, I ran into West Street’s Lisa Carroll (Costa) as we were both entering Pisa Pizza (my half tray with extra sauce, onions and meatballs was outstanding!!); then the next day as I was on my walk with brother Joe we ran into Lisa’s mom — Edwina — also walking the old Edgeworth neighborhood. Great seeing both of you!
• I spotted Glenn Watson recently wearing the coolest 621 Tavern & Grill gray sweatshirt I have ever seen. A real beauty! Hint, hint.
• Edgeworth royalty, Nick Angelo, turned 100 years young a few weeks back with a swinging shindig at Ho Win Palace thrown by his brother Johnny and his lovely daughters Paula and Ann-Marie. I was there in spirit, Nick! Love ya, Nicky! Happy birthday and all the best in 2026!
• I’ve mentioned this before, but some stories deserve another spin around Edgeworth and beyond. I recall the very first time I witnessed the full Nicky Angelo experience — and believe me, you never forget your first. It was the Saint Rocco Feast of 1973, the kind of August summer night where the music’s loud (Roma Band?), the air thick with grilled sausage smoke, and everybody looks like they’re in a Scorsese movie (big hair and white tees were all the rage in 1973 Edgeworth). There I was, nursing a Schlitz in Albert’s Beer Garden with my (late) BFF, Jimmy Damiano (by 1973 Jimmy gave up drinking — inside joke). Then suddenly… a ripple. A shift. A hush. The crowd began parting like the Red Sea — no exaggeration — as the Prince of Pearl Street himself, Nick Angelo, came strolling in. And is it just me, or does this guy even walk cool? He floated through that crowd like Brian Jones slipping through Monterey Pop in ’67, all effortless swagger and untouchable aura. I leaned over to Jimmy and asked who the (expletive deleted) just arrived. Jimmy whispered, half amused, “I forgot… you grew up on the other side of Highland Ave., that’s Nicky Angelo.” The hair. The presence. The beautiful daughters! In that moment, I was drafted — willingly and permanently — into the Nicky Angelo Edgeworth fan club.
• Elaine Fisher, 87, of Malden, formerly of Lynn. I came across her obituary in the Jewish Journal and was blown away with what I read. What a life! From frequenting New York’s best Jewish delis (Carnegie) to Venice Beach in California, to London for her 35th anniversary, to Coney Island for a slice and a dog — looks like Elaine was never shortchanged in life’s joy department. May her memory be a blessing.
• Anybody else catch the 12th and final video released by Gary Cherone’s band Extreme from their 2023 release, “Six,” called “Here’s to the Losers”? No?! Shame because it is an instant classic with each band member giving a nod to their respective high schools. Gary is sporting the sweetest Malden High School Blue & Gold hoop jersey gifted to him many years ago by, you guessed it, Joe Levine. Upon release the “album” landed at #10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart with first week sales of 12,500 copies! Holy cow! Extreme are back. Bigly! Congratulations guys, well deserved!
• One last Extreme note… I promise to come see you guys play again only if you allow the original “Kid Ego” — Dickie August — to play lead on Kid Ego. Deal? Inside joke.
• You’re gonna miss him when he’s gone (especially you, Kevin Morrison; you won’t have anybody to kick around any longer — LOL). I’m talking about legendary Globe sports maven Dan Shaughnessy. Example: I knew the iconic Mike Lynch of Channel 5 sports fame was an outstanding baseball player at Harvard but had no idea he stood out in football also. Thanks to a note in a recent column by Mr. Shaughnessy, I found out that in 1975 Lynchie kicked a 26-yard field goal with 33 seconds left on the clock to win the Ivy League title against Yale in front of 66 thousand fans at the Yale Bowl. Amazing! Thank you, Dan, for all the enjoyment/knowledge you have given us over these many years. Please do not retire any time soon.
• Mike Lynch side note… I knew Mike Lynch was a standout baseball player at Harvard because whenever I walk into Frank’s Steak House in Cambridge, I always admire the baseball clipping on the FSH Wall of Fame showing Lynchie at bat for Harvard with Boston College’s George “Mr. Frank’s Steak House” Ravanis on the mound for the Eagles. Priceless picture! Love George Ravanis! Hope to be in soon for a “sizzler!” George, say HI for us to the best waitress in Cambridge, Lady Sunday!
• Speaking of Dan Shaughnessy, Bob Ryan, Peter Gammons, Will McDonough and the rest of the amazing sports journalists we grew up reading… Former City of Malden Clerk, Councillor-at-Large and current sought-after political sage — Greg Lucey — tells of his time working in Lake Tahoe in the 1980s with other intrepid Bostonians. Highlight of the week? When the weekly mail arrived from back home with the previous week’s Globe sports pages! Dissected — read and reread cover to cover until the next batch arrived. The golden age of sports journalism in Boston brought so much joy 2,911 miles away.
• Happy 54th wedding anniversary to those two eternal/ageless lovebirds, Buddy and Louise Arthur.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas (and every other holiday celebrated this time of year)! Fantabulous job done once again by those hardworking guys (and gals) at the DPW. (Nicky, tell they guys they done really good, once again!) for creating the festive atmosphere throughout the downtown area and beyond. Bobby Knox, Eric Rubin and the Mayor’s Office nailed it once again this year. The Christmas Trees in Maplewood and Malden Squares look majestic, and the beautiful wreaths and bows scattered throughout are a welcome sight after a year none of us will soon forget. Cannot omit the Menorah display at City Hall, which also looks marvelous. Thank you, Malden, you never disappoint.

Postscript 1: Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since my mother passed. Ten years! Feels like yesterday. The hole she left in our lives remains as wide and deep as ever, especially this time of year. Mom absolutely adored Christmas. The music, the lights, the gift giving, making 20 pounds of pizzelles for me — every minute of it. So, it feels only right to bring this memory, and one of her favorite holiday quotes, back to life once again.

As I’ve written before, my beloved mother was very special. Strong, protective, beautiful and fiercely loving, she had this rare gift of making everyone feel like they mattered — even if, truth be told, she didn’t always like you! LOL. Over the years, our friends naturally became hers, and I’m fairly certain she managed to feed every single one of them at some point.

When she passed, the outpouring of love on Facebook was overwhelming. In moments of loss, that’s when social media shows its best side. Mom would have gotten the biggest kick out of reading every post — and she would have unabashedly bragged about that one photo of her shoveling snow on Charles Street that racked up over 300 likes. There she was, bundled up, clearing her sidewalk while her four big, strong boys slept through the morning. Classic Dorothy Drago Levine.

So, in her honor — and for the season she loved — I share again her favorite Christmas quote, the one that always made her eyes twinkle and her heart soften. From the beloved Dr. Seuss:

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

Merry Christmas, Mom. Your light and your spirit still shine just as bright today.

Postscript 2: A special Christmas season shout-out to a dear friend of mine, Jimmy Semon. This past year, Jimmy gifted me something I’ll hold close to my heart for the rest of my life — one of those rare, meaningful gestures that remind you what true friendship really is. Thank you again, Jimmy. Wishing you and your wonderful family a season filled with health, happiness and all the quiet little blessings that make this time of year so special.

Postscript 3: And now, here’s something we hope you’ll really like… If you’re tired of the same old, same old Christmas music being played and played out on the radio dial, do yourself a favor, take a moment and search out “The Only Thing I Want for Christmas (Is Just to Keep the Things That I’ve Got)” sung by Isidore Itzkowitz aka Eddie Cantor. This famous turn of (last) century Jewish actor, comedian, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author simply nails the holiday spirit with this Johnny Lange, Lew Porter and Vic Knight composed classic. Became my fave Christmas earworm the moment it hit my inner ear drums: “the only thing I want for Christmas/A pair of loving arms around me/A garden of forget-me-nots/The only thing I want for Christmas/Is just to keep the things that I’ve got…”

—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.