~ Malden Musings ~ The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (MA Chapter) Induction Ceremony

By Peter Levine

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (Massachusetts Chapter) Induction Ceremony on Sunday, October 5, at Anthony’s on Canal Street was wicked pissa according to reliable sources. One of the more reliable sources, old friend Dave Caiazzo, gave me a firsthand account of the glorious afternoon. Take it away, Cai:

“It was, without question, the most unforgettable sports banquet Malden has seen in years. The room was packed with familiar faces — former Augustine A’s everywhere you turned, joined by an impressive lineup of ex-professional athletes. The energy was electric. For a few hours, everyone in attendance was a kid again, caught up in the memories, the joy, and the stories that just kept coming.

“Joe DiSarcina and Al Fornaro delivered powerful, heartfelt acceptance speeches, and John DiBiaso — this year’s Tony DeMarco Award winner — captivated the crowd with his trademark passion and humor. Being asked by Joe (DiSarcina) to introduce him was a true honor for me. It gave me the chance to share a few stories from our championship years with the A’s — those legendary seasons that still stand as the gold standard in ICL history.

“At one point, a guest came up to me and said, ‘Sir, I felt like I was part of the team, even though I wasn’t.’ That’s how magical the night was. It wasn’t just a banquet — it was a time capsule, transporting us all back to the days when the game was played the right way. Back when coaches also played the game themselves and taught it from the heart.

“Seeing old friends like Frank Nuzzo, John Capra, and John Romboli — stars from those great Everett High teams — added to the nostalgia. And when Coach DiBiaso and Coach Fornaro swapped stories, the crowd hung on every word. DiBiaso’s recollections of legendary Everett coach Moody Sarno were absolutely priceless.

“Simply put, this was the kind of sports event you just don’t see anymore — not in Malden, not anywhere. It was a night of celebration of athletic excellence, friendship, and tradition. Thanks to everyone who supported our NIASHOF organization, and to those who helped make the auction and raffles such a success. Together, we raised an incredible amount of scholarship money to help local kids chase their college dreams.

“An unforgettable night of pure Malden magic.”

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• In the “singing seems to help a troubled soul” department… The Reminisants blew the roof off City Hall Plaza and the ghost of the old Strand Theatre as the last 2025 act to appear at the Mayor’s Summer Concert Series. A full house witnessed the Rems at their very best, and the atmosphere was downright festive with free ice cream, pizza and raffles. Thank you, gentlemen, for never failing to give your very best to Malden. See you next year.
• One hilarious moment in the life of the I.A.C.C… It’s Sunday morning and the regular crowd shuffles in (where did I steal that line from?) and take their rightful place at the bar. A hobbled Danny Siraco is putting on his regular Sunday Morning One Man Show; laughing loudly and gesturing wildly and like the madman that he can sometimes be. So, anyway, those sitting at the bar — as Sunday morning tradition dictates — are busting each other’s beans. Bigly! Then out of nowhere Danny blurts out for all to hear, “I’m just not as needy as you guys!” Joe and I didn’t catch what preceded this comment, but the place bust out with one of the loudest guffaws I have heard down there in quite a long time! Danny, you are a true Malden (via Somerville) original, my friend! Get better soon.
• John Macdonald — via Facebook — was kind enough to share some priceless memories: “Our crowd spent our best years in Malden Square from Jenny’s Pizza by the Strand Theater (directly across the street from where City Hall sits today), back down to Bells Donut Shop and Signor Pizza and the Palace of Sweets where Alvin Long sold the Globe at midnight on Saturday nights from the middle of Pleasant St. I grew up in ‘The Square,’ and learned things I never spoke of. LOL” Thank you for sharing, John.
• Wicked Good Song of the Week: “Passing Through” — performed (live) by Leonard Cohen (1973).
• Martha Bartlett speaks via the wonderful world of Facebook: “Reading this (Irish American Labor Day Road Race 2025 article) brings to mind the beginnings of the Irish American Club. It started in O’Neil’s Drug Store (Charles & Gale). My uncle Ed O’Neil, Arthur Breslin, John McCallen, Tom Kelly and a fifth were the founding fathers and sadly, at 85 names escape me at times. The first was at a Victorian around Florence St. The stained-glass window in the lobby was from this house, which was torn down. My aunt Hester O’Neil and my mother Martha O’Neil Comeau and Mrs. Kelly began the Ladies Auxiliary. There were so many wonderful times held in the hall starting in the 60’s. Just thought a little history would be fun!” From the bottom of my heart, Martha, thank you for sharing history with the rest of Malden. It’s extremely important to document our glorious past: the good, the bad and everything in between.
• Harriett (Gelin) Sherman, 94, of Peabody, formerly of Malden. May her memory be a blessing.
• All the platters that matter… Bruce Owens — guitarist/cofounder at B.F. Raid (“Boston’s Final Raid”) — speaks: “We’ve got a new song on the upcoming album called Punchdrunk that’s all about growing up in Malden back in the ’70s and ’80s. It’s a love letter to the days when the streets handed out wisdom with a dope-smack or sucker-punch, and our parents didn’t hesitate to knock some sense into us. If you didn’t learn fast, you got ‘punch drunk on wisdom.’ Can’t wait for you to hear it.” Thank you, Bruce, looking forward to it.
• Speaking of Tim Rufo, let’s hear from longtime City of Malden employee, stone-cold Edgeworth gal and a person whose opinion on music I respect a great deal — Joanne Settemio. On a side note, Joanne turned Goodie, Jay Bird, Frankie and I on to The Atlantics back in 1982!! Pop Shivers! Joanne speaks: “Peter, did you know that Tim Rufo – the most excellent and well-liked teacher at Ferryway – is my cousin? Yup! Another relative of mine, Billy’s and Dommy. My father Tiger was Tim’s dad – Junior Rufo’s uncle! In short…. Tim’s grandmother and my father were brother and sister! Tim’s our 2nd cousin! Great guy. Great family!! His mom Gail is a sweetheart and Junior was so funny!! I know my dad, Junior, Butch (Gennetti) and Uncle Dom are all having a cold Schlitz and toasting Saint Rocco as they watch over us!”
• Kitty Dukakis, 88, first Jewish spouse of a U.S. presidential candidate. May her memory be a blessing.
• Happy birthday wishes to Paul “Hoss Jr.” Condon Jr. (10.23), Annie Willcox (10.24), Eric Dyer & Jennifer Antonetti-Nylin (10.25) and Joe “The Forgotten Molis” Molis (10.26).
• Odds bodkins! The September 26 Advocate editorial praising the mayor and his staff on getting us through the trash strike was spot on! I know for a fact because I also ran into the mayor but at the Devir Park 4th Celebration. I asked him the same question that morning (“what’s going on?”), to which he also replied to me, “trash!” We proceeded to talk trash for the next 10 minutes or so before I excused myself to talk to other people on any other subject… but trash. I kid, mayor! Great job, kudos to you and your outstanding team! Republic ain’t no JRM (we miss you, Jim Motzkin), but as long as they pick up the trash, we’re good.
• Happy 90th birthday to singer-songwriter “Mr. Eve of Destruction” Barry McGuire!
• Speaking of “Sunday dinner”… Jimmy Moe posted an epic meme to the Edgeworth FB page last week: “The older I get, the more I realize…Sunday wasn’t just about sauce, it was about family.” Those of us who ate Sunday dinner religiously (hung over?) understood this completely and would give our right arm for one more of those Sunday dinners of yesteryear: raviolis fresh from the North End, French bread directly from the ovens at DiPietro’s to our kitchen table, and mother’s sauce — recipe handed down straight from her mother and, most likely, noni’s mother. To paraphrase “Gentleman Jim” Reeves, “I’ll forget many things in my lifetime, but I won’t forget…Sunday dinner.”
• I once had the unexpected honor of shaking hands and sharing a few quiet moments with the late Joan Bennett Kennedy — sometime back in the mid-’90s at a Boston fundraiser. A mutual friend, the always lovely and forever young Linda S. Viens, made the introduction. It’s hard to put into words, but there was something about Joan — an aura of grace, charm and quiet dignity that seemed to surround her. For about five unforgettable minutes or so, we spoke as if the rest of the room had disappeared. That brief encounter left a lasting mark. Rest peacefully, Joan Bennett Kennedy — elegance personified.
• Oh, my goodness! None other than the incomparable Patty Kelly — Bread of Life’s tireless Development Director — graciously took me on a personal grand tour of their buzzing facility, and let me tell you, two words sum it up: simply amazing! Everywhere I looked, volunteers were in constant motion — like a finely tuned orchestra of kindness — packing up boxes of food with purpose and heart. Familiar faces like my old pals Richard Young and Doug Rogers were there, too, keeping the whole operation humming like clockwork. Color me beyond impressed! Before I left, I handed Patty a few pieces of John Volpe memorabilia (a little slice of Malden history!), which I hope will someday find a cozy display spot in their building. Stay tuned — more on that story later!

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — strolling down memory lane at the Italian American Citizens’ Club, hand in (very small) hand with my lantzman Harvey Nadler, we toasted the past with a High Life and Ballantine Ale — old-school brewskis for two old-school souls. Across the table, “Nat the Cat” was in full freestyle mode, riffing on wild nights at the legendary Shipwreck Lounge on Revere Beach and all points in between.

He painted the picture like it was yesterday (hey, he ain’t no Frank Stella but Harvey can talk): Preacher Jack pounding the “horse teeth” into submission, keys flying, Budweisers disappearing one by one, the crowd somewhere between reverent, confused and rowdy. Harvey couldn’t help but become emotional for the Revere Beach that once was (and for the Italian girl that got away LOL), that neon boardwalk wonderland of his youth, gin joints, such as the JoJo Room, General Edwards Inn, Ball of Confusion, Victor’s, Jacob’s Ladder, The Banyan Club, Alphonso’s Monkey Lounge, the Ebb Tide (aka The Beach Ball), Hurley’s Palm Garden, The Libra Lounge, Jaws, and Pixies Beer Garden.

All gone now, ghosts in the salty Reveah air. But Harvey’s memory of Malden yesterday? Miller High Life razor sharp and laser focused. Harvey recalls every face, every horse, every box score, every corner, every wise guy, every laugh and even every slight (LOL). Harvey Nadler, the inscrutable and irreplaceable Maldonian, through and through — and one I’m proud to call friend.

Postscript: “Looped toward shortstop, Petrocelli’s back… he’s got it! The Red Sox win! And there’s pandemonium on the field… listen!” Who remembers the call?! I do!

—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.