I first met George Salah eight years ago when a friend told me of a 92-year-old World War II veteran from Mission Hill.
I contacted this wonderful man have since had several lunches, dinners and drinks with him. George, who lives in Brookline, is blessed with good health, and he celebrated his 100th birthday Oct.25 with family and close friends.
He is a member of the Mission Hill Post 327, and George, a former construction worker and a gifted designer, helped build the Mission Hill Post building in 1960. George grew up in Mission Hill on Whitney Street ,and he graduated from Boston English in 1940. He was a fine athlete, playing Boston Park League Football for the Mission Hill Bulldogs, and he also took up boxing and laced on the gloves at the old Boston Arena.
Soon thereafter, he enlisted in the Navy during wartime and drove Navy landing craft in the Europe and Pacific theaters. He won numerous battle stars including those at Omaha Beach, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. George has done yeoman’s work volunteering his time on behalf of veterans and a while back he was the “Veteran of the Year” in Brookline for his volunteer work.
I last saw George a few weeks ago when he was sipping a drink at the bar at the Corrib Restaurant in West Roxbury. I engaged in a warm telephone conversation with George on his 100th birthday and felt so proud to be his friend. God Bless George.
Richie Curran passed away peacefully last month surrounded by his loving kin. Richie, along with his wife, Mary Jane, raised a wonderful family, and hundreds of times, I walked by their Pontiac Street porch to chat with Richie and the Currans. I enjoyed going to lunch with Richie and having coffee with him at Mike’s Donuts because he was always cheerful and witty.
Richie was a bricklayer and a retired construction inspector for the City of Boston. Richie was an Air Force Veteran and a member of the Mission Hill Post.
I got to know Richie 50 years ago when Richie was the bartender at Ed Burke’s Tavern, and he served me many bottles of Schlitz at that famous Mission Hill watering hole.
Congratulations to Attorney Olivia Todd, a nice and brilliant young lady who recently passed the bar exam.
Olivia, who studied at the New England School of Law, is the daughter of Kevin Todd and Tina Todd. Her grandfather, John Todd is often referred to as “The Mayor of Mission Hill.”
Condolences to the family of Bobby Hounsell, a former Mission Hill resident who passed away last month. Bobby, who was living in Mansfield, was a retired Postal worker and a fun-loving guy.
I hadn’t seen Bobby in years, but I fondly recall playing basketball with him up the Hill back in the old days. Bobby was an excellent hoopster, and he also had a good poker player when he would occasionally join us at the Mission Hill Post for our Friday night games. I enjoyed being at the card table with Bobby because he added his personal touch of levity.
RIP, Bobby, who will be dearly missed especially by his wife Donna (Cassio) Hounsell and his daughter Jacqueline Hounsell.
I attended a fundraiser last month for “Spontaneous Celebrations,” a terrific Community Center in J.P.
The event was co-chaired by Randace Rauscher and Kacy Hughes and the talented Col. Broccoli and his Legion Basement Band provided the entertainment. Randace, when she’s not organizing local community events, likes to hang out with the boys at Mike’s Donuts especially when it’s blueberry muffin time.
Congrats to Mission Hill Post 327 Commander Col. George Rollins and Post members for being honored with an Official Resolution from the Boston City Council for the continuous support of our noble veterans.
The Mission Hill Post members will participate in our Veterans Day ceremony Saturday, Nov. 11, at Brigham Circle. Please join us for this inspiring event beginning at 11 a.m. God Bless our Veterans.
Maurice can be reached at [email protected]