~ The Advocate Asks ~

Rooting for the Yankees never gets old for Antonetta D’Alessandro, the latest Saugus resident to turn 100

 

  Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Antonetta D’Alessandro, the newest Centenarian of Saugus, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 15 with family and friends. She also received a special visit from state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), who presented her a Citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives honoring her special day. Antonetta lived most of her life in East Boston before moving to Saugus about a year ago. She currently resides at the Rubin House. She is the wife of the late John D’Alessandro, whom she met at age 15. She is the daughter of the late Joseph and Sadie DeAngelis, owners of DeAngelis Bakery in East Boston. Her late sister, Mary Burke, was a School Committee member in Saugus, and Mary’s daughter, Linda MacTaggart, is a lifelong Saugus resident. Diane LaVertue, of Winthrop, Antonetta’s daughter, wrote in a note about her mom: “She is a wonderful, kind, caring and generous woman, but she does have her faults. We have had to contend with her love of the New York Yankees as well as the other man in her life … Frank Sinatra.”

 

Q: Please tell me a little bit about yourself, Antonetta. Where were you born?

A: I was born in a house at 173 Maverick St. in East Boston.

Q: How many siblings did you have?

A: I had two sisters and a brother. I was the oldest.

Q: Where did you go to High School?

A: Girls High in Roxbury. After I graduated, I went to work at different places. I worked 25 years at Teradyne in Boston and then I retired.

Q: Tell me about your family.

A: My husband, John, died at age 61. We were married for over 40 years. John worked at the Boston Fish Pier for many years and went to Eastern Airlines later as a cook. We had two girls. One passed away six years ago in Florida. I have two grandchildren. Sharon is 55 and Brian is 53.

Q: I understand you are a big baseball fan.

A: I’m a Yankees fan. I used to be a Red Sox fan. But the Yankees became my favorite team.

Q: Did you watch a lot of baseball at Fenway Park?

A: My uncle used to take me all of the time. And I went to one game at Yankee Stadium.

Q: Why did you switch teams?

A: Because I got tired of the Red Sox losing.

Q: I guess you didn’t approve of the big Red Sox comeback over the Yankees in 2004 when they were three games down and went on to win the next four to win the American League pennant.

A: Oh, no!

Q: Yeah, that must have been tough watching the Red Sox beat the Yankees. But you’re really into baseball.

A: I love baseball. I love it. I can’t wait til Spring Training. I love the Yankees.

Q: What do you like about baseball?

A: The game, of course. I love the homeruns. I never liked baseball when I was younger. My father would have his radio on, listening to the games. My uncle used to get a lot of tickets to the Red Sox games. Uncle Diddy used to take me to the games. Then, I started taking my nephew to the games.

Q: Who was your favorite player?

A: That depends on the year; Ted Williams, when I was a Red Sox fan. I liked Carlton Fisk, too. I had a crush on him! My favorite player for the Yankees was Joe DiMaggio. Derek Jeter was one of my favorite Yankee players. And I like Aaron Judge. I love the Yankees.

Q: Besides baseball, what were your hobbies and passions?

A: I loved musicals and plays, dancing and Frank Sinatra. I loved to hear Frank Sinatra sing.

Q: Did you ever meet Frank Sinatra?

A: I went to see him four times, but I never met him. I wish I had. But I get to listen to him sing every day in the living room.

Q: What do you consider the highlights of your life?

A: I got married and I had children and I had grandchildren.

Q: Did you do much driving?

A: No. I used to walk all of the time. I never had a car.

Q: What is your secret to making it to 100 years old? What advice do you have for people who want to live that long?

A: No drinking. No smoking

Q: Who was your favorite president?

A: John F. Kennedy. He was young. He was handsome.

Q: Did you ever get to meet a president?

A: I got to meet George Bush [George H. W. Bush]. He came to Teradyne where I worked. That’s where I met him. I got a picture taken of him and me.

Q: Who is the most remarkable or most famous person you have ever met?

A: I met Clint Eastwood. I also got to meet [actor] Sean Penn. [The meetings happened when Eastwood directed and co-produced the 2003 movie “Mystic River”].

Q: What’s the biggest change you have seen in your lifetime?

A: Cell phones.

Q: What was the most interesting thing you’ve done in your life?

A: I was very dull.

Q: I’m sure you have done some very interesting things.

A: I went to see a lot of Broadway shows and musicals.

Q: Did you like to cook?

A: Yes.

Q: What was your favorite dish?

A: Ravioli, meatballs and spaghetti, lasagna – anything Italian.

Q: How did you celebrate your 100th birthday?

A: A big rum cake, pizza, sandwiches and champagne