MHSAA alumni pasta party a 'great time'

Alumni Pasta Party a ‘great time

The Malden High School Alumni Association is grateful for the generosity of those who came to its annual pasta party, and for those who couldn’t come but contributed in many ways to the success of the event.

Malden High alumni, families and friends gathered to celebrate the holiday season Saturday evening at Anthony’s brightly lit function hall on Canal Street.

“I think it was really good,” MHSAA President Anthony Dickinson, ’66, beamed with satisfaction as he surveyed the excellently decorated banquet room filled with more than 200 pasta lovers, many with children.

“Everyone had a great time,” said board member Carol Scally, ’64. She and Janet Spiriti, ’64, made sure all the details were in place.

“There was plenty to eat,” she said.

The children certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, chasing balloons, dancing, being wrapped in bathroom tissue in a game orchestrated by DJ Jim Hislop, who also kept the adults entertained with music.

Kids and adults also got a chance to have their pictures taken with Santa, who joined the alumni celebration after riding into Malden Square on a fire truck in Malden’s Parade of Holiday Traditions.

Also coming over from the parade and tree lighting ceremonies was Mayor Gary Christenson, ’86, who joined other city elected officials to support the alumni’s fund-raising event to benefit MHS students, particularly those in need.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Malden legend, also made a surprise visit.

Dickinson wanted to particularly acknowledge members of the Class of 2007, which took up three tables in the hall. He thanked them for making the pasta party “a part of their reunion.” It is hoped other classes in the future will take note.

The highlight of the party was President Dickinson’s reading the names of those who held winning raffle tickets, particularly the alumni’s first mega 50-50 cash drawing. There was some skepticism initially whether people would buy enough $10 tickets to cover the anticipated prize.

MHSAA board member David Ladner, ’01, who proposed the big prize raffle, smiled with satisfaction as the goal was far exceeded, thanks to the generosity of those who bought the tickets in advance and at the door.

Treasurer Camille Colantouni, ’70, illustrated that, fanning through a few stacks of $10s and $20s that pushed the big prize over the top.

The winner of the top 50-50 prize, $4,000, was Margaret King. The coffee’s on you Margaret.

The second prize of two 2018 Red Sox home game tickets was won by Michael Slama, and the third prize of a television set was won by Judy Froio, wife of School Committee member John Froio, ’58. She was present for the drawing.

“I was shocked,” she said when Dickinson read her name. “I never win anything.” And no, she has no plans to sell it.

There were also three tables adorned with other raffle prizes, the result of the dedicated efforts of ’54 classmates Anna Lombardi and Barbara Pelosi, with the help of other MHSAA members and Barbara’s daughter Michelle.

An interesting sidelight to the cultural changes in Malden, which has a significant Asian population, was the presence by chance of a young Chinese reporter from The Epoch Times, a worldwide Chinese news organization.

“Call me Jian,” said Jianyu Huang as he questioned me in halting English about the purpose of the alumni holiday party. He waved his hand in front of his face and said he saw “no other faces like mine” in the crowd. He explained his editor at the Epoch Times assigned him to come to Malden to see what the holiday parade was all about, in a city known for its diversity. While at the parade, he heard about our event “On Canal Street,” and followed some people over to Anthony’s to see what a reporter could see.

As best I could make out, he wanted to understand how the Chinese community is becoming part of the fabric of this adopted city. He saw it in the parade, but not at our alumni gathering. I hope he asked Mayor Christenson that. Keep asking questions, Jian. And pass on to your readers what you’ve seen here. There are few better places to learn. In time things change. I wished him well.

Our gratitude also to the other members of the MHSAA board and committee who dealt with the details that spell success. They are Diane Lind, ’54, Patricia Kelly, ’80, Michael Byrne, ’72, Susan Vatalaro, ’67, David and Ethel Haskell, ’54, Kathi Sheridan, ’74, John Froio, ’58, Arlene Ceppetelli, ’70, Janet Spiriti, ’64, Rachel Timmons, ’05, Mary Hampton, ’66, Fran Mauriello, ’61, Adam Weldai, ’05, and Marguerite Gonsalves.

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MHSAA Mega 50-50 Raffle winners

First prize 50-50 raffle $4,000 -- Margaret King.

Second prize two tickets to a 2018 Boston Red Sox home game – Michael Slama.

Third prize of a flat screen television -- Judy Froio.

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A Special Thanks to:

The MHSAA wants also to thank specific organizations and people for their generous donations that helped make this and other events a success:

Malden Police Patrolman’s Association

Barry & Diane Portnoy

Malden Fire Fighters – Local 902

Carole Nania

Malden Kiwanis Charity, Inc.

Dr. Paula Sneed

Murphy Insurance Agency, Inc.

Dr. Allan & Linda Zalk

Malden Housing Authority

Malden High School – Class of 2017

And a big thanks to the Spadafora family and the staff that always puts on a taste-worthy buffet.

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Submitted by David D. Haskell, '54.