~ Malden Musings ~ Steve Winslow: This Is Your Life

By Peter Levine

 

Steve Winslow ain’t just another handsome face in the Malden crowd! He’s your incumbent Ward 6 Councillor, back on the ballot, whom you must vote for, because to be frank… in Ward 6, the alternative ain’t so pretty (insert smiley face).

He may be the “new(ish)” kid on the block in Ward 6, but Steve’s no stranger to Malden politics. You might remember him as Councillor-at-Large before his convincing victory last time around. These days, folks just call him “Ward 6 Councillor” … or, depending on whom you ask, “Mr. Bicycle Man.”

Hey Maldonia, how can you not root for a guy who grew up idolizing legends like Willie Mays and Rick Barry? That’s heart, hustle and history all rolled into one. He’s Steve Winslow, and you’re not! Steve, this is your life…

Question: Full name and short family history?

Answer: Stephen Patrick Winslow, a story in itself. The Winslow family helped establish Plymouth Plantation and in 2020 represented the 400th anniversary of my family’s arrival in America on the land of the Wampanoags. My middle name honors my great-grandmother Nora who immigrated as a teen from County Cork Ireland to Boston to work as a maid. She met my great-grandfather in Boston who served as teamster for horse drawn trolleys that ran in the late 1890’s.

Q: What one thing would people be surprised to learn about you?

A: My first love was basketball. My buddies called me “Bird” for my flying slam dunks a few years before Larry Bird was a household name. (My note – not sure if Steve kids us here but he IS tall! Insert smiley face!)

Q: Favorite adult beverage?

A: My go to is Guinness on tap while a stout from Idle Hands or Night Shift will do also. To hydrate after a long bike ride, I mix Fanta Orange and orange juice.

Q: Favorite pop song of all-time?

A: “American Girl” by Tom Petty (My note – as much as I love Tom Petty, well, never mind. LOL).

Q: Herald or Globe?

A: Globe online. I pick up the Advocate at Sunnyhurst in Maplewood Square every week (My note: right on, Steve!).

Q: Last concert attended?

A: The Neighborhood with Calvin the Entertainer. My cousin’s wife actually works for the show, and my grandkids and I received passes to visit the set during taping.

Q: G.O.A.T.: Brady, Russell, Orr, Williams or Bird?

A: That’s a tough one. I would go with Russell both for his tenacious team play that led to all those championships and for his strong stands for civil rights off the court. Brady is right up there. Never been a better pure hitter than Ted Williams. Certainly, appreciated Larry Bird backed up his talk with great play. Hockey is just out of my wheelhouse. (My note: spoken like a true lifetime Bostonian! LOL).

Q: Go-to restaurant in Malden: Mystic Station, El Potro’s, Mineirão Steakhouse, Hugh O’Neill’s, 3 Amigos, 621 or All Season’s Table?

A: In Maplewood Square our go to’s are Fortune Corner and Malden House of Pizza. The place for our family dinner is Pearl Street Station. Love all those others too. I need to get to Mineirão, I always see that packed when I bike by.

Q: Favorite Boston sports team?

A: Became a Red Sox fan since moving to Malden. There is some Winslow heritage there too. My great-grandma used to listen to the Sox up at the family farm in Dover NH and her grandson ended up as the trainer when the Sox won it all in 2004. We follow the Celtics, and I am a big Jaylen Brown fan. Helen, my wife, is from Buffalo so we watch more Bills than Pats these days. (My note: We will definitely not hold that against you, Steve, for not watching the Pats!)

Q: Last movie watched?

A: Went to see Fantastic Four. I loved that cartoon growing up.

Q: Last San Rock Feast attended and what did you eat?

A: 2023. Always some sausage with peppers and onions with pizza. (My note: It is 2025, Steve – where you been the last two years, Councillor? I kid, Steve!)

Q: Fave Boston sports moment?

A: 2004 Red Sox v Yankees series, watching the Pats win the Super Bowl on the beach in Cancun and then flying back to 10 feet of snow, watching Pedro Martinez pitch at his prime.

Q: Growing up, national politician you admired?

A: Jerry Brown who was Governor when I got my first job in California helping take the lead out of gasoline. Also did not hurt he dated Linda Ronstadt, my high school heart throb.

Q: Regina’s North End or Santarpio’s East Boston?

A: Definitely Regina’s but you must go to the North End. Another surprising fact about me; I was a pizza cook myself in high school and flipped the dough for 100 pizzas one night. (My note: He ain’t no Dave Angelo making the pies, but he was good!)

Q: Stones? Beatles? Zeppelin? Temptations?

A: Beatles. Though my older siblings would point out that I was a bigger Monkees fan. First got the dancing bug doing the Twist to Chubby Checker. (My note: Steve’s love of the Monkees? Yet another reason to vote Winslow!)

Q: Raquel Welch or Brigitte Bardot?

A: Neither. Linda Ronstadt always melted my heart!

Q: Favorite Stooge?

A: I did not know you’d be asking about my fellow Councilors. Ha! No real favorite. My mom banned us from watching the Stooges, but we did get to watch those great pie fights at friends’ houses. (My note: got to say I like Steve even more after this answer!)

Q: First on the To-Do list for Ward 6 if reelected?

A: A bus shelter at 630 Salem Street.

Q: Godfather 1, Godfather 2, Casino, Donnie Brasco or Goodfellas?

A: Actually, I went more for Clint Eastwood’s ‘Dirty Harry’ movies like ‘Magnum Force.’ I loved the quote “a man has gotta know his limitations.”

Q: One improvement to the Malden Landscape Wish List?

A: The shade shelter for the Trafton Park picnic area that the Bayrd Foundation is funding. That will be great for birthday parties and for the summer meals with kids. Bigger dream is a greenway network connecting all the neighborhoods of Malden.

Thank you, Steve, for your time, honesty, love of Malden and sense of humor. See Malden? He ain’t just a walking, talking bike lane. Gabba, gabba hey! He’s one of us! Insert one last smiley face.

Picked up pieces while thumbing through a 1977 copy of The Malden Sun-Times…

• Malden election season October 1977; Attorney Ronald Glick running for Ward 5 Councillor, Attorney Larry S. Mazonson running to keep his seat in Ward 7 & Ron Pressman giving the school committee a shot…ahhh, the good old days. Mazel tov, gentlemen! Hope you all won! Kenny (Mazonson) — you got any idea who came out on top?
• The “Downstairs Deli” at 77 Pleasant St. is offering an early bird special (6 a.m.-10:30 a.m.) with one egg, home fries, coffee and an English muffin for 79 cents. Neal Sullivan at Cornucopia — can you match that?
• Roli Music at 14 Irving St. has “pop singles” 45 cents each or three for $1.25. I remember the time I bought “In the Year 2525” (Zager & Evans), “Let’s Put It All Together” (Stylistics) and “Psychedelic Shack” (Temptations) for that rock-bottom price of $1.25. Don’t believe me? They are still in my collection.
• At Simmons Super Market at 347 Pleasant St. (formerly the A&P), you can purchase Ragu Spaghetti Sauce for 98 cents a jar, pork chops for 98 cents a pound and Top Sirloin Steak at $1.98 a pound. My note: Looking back, selling Ragu that close to the Italian enclave of Edgeworth on Pearl Street was a sin of epic proportions!
• Joe Simmons was the owner, Dick Simmons was the Meat Manager, Carole Giordano was the head cashier, and Jim Hurley was the Store Manager.
• King Neptune was sacred ground in 1977, located at 169 Highland Ave. They advertised a “Family Fish Fry” special for $6.95 (haddock only) good for five people. It was Mondays only during November of ’77. My note: If I had a dime for every time Don asked me and my pally Jimmy Damiano to finish up our fries and get lost, well, I’d have a whole lotta dimes!
• Augustine’s Restaurant in Saugus on Route 1 had “Augustine’s Thursday Night Buffet” — all you can eat for $4.50 — consisting of veal cutlet, Shrimp Augustine, veal cacciatore, meatballs, Italian sausage, stuffed peppers, macaroni, roast chicken and ravioli. MHS football and wrestling standout Tommy Monahan (now ace bartender at the I.A.C.C.) and I would invade Augustine Plaza on many of these Thursday nights and never left a ravioli standing! To this day we feel bad, we MAY have put them prematurely out of business.
• For sale: 1967 Chevy 4 door with power steering; $400.
• Dom Fermano is living at 17 Julia St. and is running to be reelected as Ward 2 Councillor. Yes, THAT Dom Fermano! The ageless wonder!
• Ronny “Malden Ron” Anderson (from the DPW) is in his prime and is writing the “pro football news” for the local weekly, The Malden Sun-Times. Malden Ron was a New York Giants fanatic and was a wonderful man/unique character who (I know this is cliché, but it so apropos) left us way too soon.

“And now, here’s something we hope you’ll really like…”

Attention Maldonia! Important news from Maldonia of yesteryear… “Malden High School Class of 1979 will be sponsoring a fashion show, in collaboration with Sparks Department Store on Friday, November 4^th, 1977, at the Jenkins Auditorium at MHS. Class advisor Richie Bezubka announced the exciting news recently and stated they are very grateful to Sparks for partnering with the Class of ’79. Faculty members Arlene Goldstein and Sharon McGee have also been instrumental in getting this event off the ground. Sparks ‘fashion consultant’ Davene MacPherson was overjoyed working with the kids stating, ‘They are so co-operative and attractive that it’s a pleasure working with them.’ Tony Clemente’s New Style Barber Shop has agreed to style the hair of the male models free of charge and C.C. Hair Design of Danvers is donating their styling and cutting for the young ladies while Spadafora & Sons Florists has agreed to donate the floral arrangements. A partial list of those participating: Mandy Carey, Lisa Lipani, Lynne Howell, Cathy Flanagan, Beverly Langston, Darlene LeBlanc, Lisa Vuolo, Holly Moore, Ronny McCarthy, Dave Boyle, Diane Flynn, Lori Capodilupo, Phil Weiner, Danny Cook, Bobby Santilli, Joey Pagano, Eddie Moffatt, Bill Mini, Elaine Hanson, Ellen Heiten, Lori Tamagna, and Scott Leabman.” My note — and with all due respect, of course — that was one good-looking class! I hope it was a success! If Mandy or Darlene or Lisa or David or Phil would like to give me their memories of the night, it would be a pleasure to print. Barbara, were you there?

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — the San Rock Feast, and actually, the entire Malden community, wrapped its loving arms around Salvatore “Butch” Gennetti all San Rock Festa weekend long. You could feel him everywhere, interwoven into the laughter, the music, the clinking of glasses (white Henny Cognac, anybody?!). It was Butch’s world, and we were just lucky enough to be invited inside.

For 85 vibrant, technicolor years, Butch lived and loved like few ever could. Every chapter of his story was written with class, dignity and undeniable style. He was our neighborhood’s sage, our shaman, the man who somehow made you feel like family the moment you crossed his path (even when he was arresting you! LOL).

And then, just like that, he signed off — his way, of course. With grace. With charm. With a wink that said “don’t you dare forget me.” How could we ever?! Damn it, Butch! Eighty-five years wasn’t nearly enough.

 

—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.