By Maurice ‘Mossy’ Martin
Mission Hill lost a great one last month when John Todd passed away a month shy of his 94th birthday.
A father of four, grandfather of six and great-grandfather to five, John possessed uncanny wisdom, and was the recipient of his acuity going back 60 years when we both lived in the Mission Hill project.
John, who worked for the sheriff’s department in Norfolk County, lived for decades on Calumet Street, where he enjoyed sitting on his porch, chatting with passersby and exuding goodwill. He also owned ‘Maxie’s,’ a small grocery store at Calumet and Sachem streets, in the ‘60s.
In eulogizing his dad at the Mission Church Memorial Mass, Kevin Todd, recalled being a little boy in Maxie’s one afternoon. A customer said she didn’t have enough money to go to the Elm Farm Market, and she was a tad short in purchasing a box of pasta and tomato sauce.
“No problem at all,” John told her. “Grab a loaf of bread on the way out to fill up the kids’ bellies.”
A few years ago, John called me and told me to come by his house to see some memorabilia. John had stepped into another room, when Kevin, who was there visiting his father, bellowed out: “Dad, your son, Maurice, is here.”
Mr. Todd was a second father to so many of us in Mission Hill.
I got a warm feeling upon the news that Naval Officer Joseph Keiley from Mission Hill was promoted to Naval Commander. Joseph is the son of terrific parents, the late Philip Keiley and his proud mother, Evelyn (Quinn) Keiley. The Keileys are a wonderful family who lived up the Hill for decades and I’m reminded of Joseph’s grandfather, John “Abner” Keiley.
Abner was a great baseball player who played center field for Mission High School in the 1940s, and after retiring from the post office, I became close friends with him. He was the unofficial social director at my hangout, the Mission Hill Post, organizing whist tournaments and poker tournaments. I spent hours in the back dingy card room at the Post with him and other old-timers .
Abner would be so proud of his grandson, Commander Joseph Keiley.
I attended the fifth annual Wayne Selden Basketball Camp last week at Madison Park, which was enjoyed by 200 kids.
Wayne, a pro basketball player from Mission Hill, is the main sponsor of the event, which included free haircuts for the kids, with three talented barbers on hand, as well as free shirts.
Thanks to Circle Pizza in Brighton for sending 50 delicious pizzas; N.E. Baptist Hospital for donating gift cards; and to Mike’s Donuts for the tasty munchkins. Most important, the kids were enthralled, sharing the court and getting guidance from Selden.
The kids were also thrilled to meet special guest, Svi Mykhailiuk who was Wayne’s teammate at Kansas U. Svi was a member of last year’s Celtics championship team.
I’ve known Wayne since he was the batboy on our Mission Hill Liquors softball team, and he never forgot where he came from.
Condolences to the family of Claire King, who passed away last month.
A studious woman who graduated at the top of her 1958 Mission High class, Claire was among seven siblings who grew up on Calumet Street, and she loved Mission Hill. Claire was a gifted storyteller, and she enjoyed telling absorbing tales about the old days on the Hill. Claire will be deeply missed.
Mission Hill lost one of their oldest businesses last month when Sofia’s Alterations & Cleaning closed. Talented seamstress, Sofia Marmanides, retired after decades working at her shop at 824 Huntington Ave.
Many years ago, Sofia’s husband, the late Nick Marmanides, mended shoes at Sofia’s, the last Mission Hill cobbler to ply his trade.
I had occasionally been a customer at Sofia’s, most recently when I brought in my 80-year-old baseball glove for lacing.
Sofia did excellent work, and I enjoyed chatting with such a nice lady.
The Mission Hill Post 327 Golf Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, tee-off at 11:30 a.m. This is a noble event, which raises money for our veterans and Mission Hill institutions.
Like every year, $10,000 will be awarded to the golfer who scores a hole in one on the seventh hole.
If you are interested in playing, sponsoring a hole or donating a gift card for our post golf raffle, our M.H. Post Commander, Col. George Rollins can be contacted at 703-209-2124. Maurice can be reached at [email protected].