Happy 250th birthday to our great country
By Maurice ‘Mossy’ Martin
General Brigadier Enoch ‘Woody’ Woodhouse was honored on June 18 by the Red Sox June 18, when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Red Sox-Blue Jays game at Fenway Park.
Woody, a World War II hero, put some mustard on the pitch, utilizing the old-fashioned windmill windup, tossing the ball to Sox catcher Connor Wong. Woody was accompanied by his wife, Stella, who looked marvelous on television.
Boston Mayor John ‘Honey’ Fitzgerald made the initial Fenway Park ceremonial first pitch upon the opening of the famous park April 20, 1912, when the Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders, 7- 6. Honey Fitz was the grandfather of our 35th President, J.F.K.
Mike McIntosh, from West Roxbury was victorious in his first pro bout at Fenway Park on June 6.
A cheering crowd, including several Mission Hill spectators, saw McIntosh, a 140 pounder, defeat Steve Farrar in a four-round decision.
I’m reminded of the great sportswriter, Red Smith, who said, “Boxing is a rough, dangerous and thrilling sport, the most uncomplicated of athletic competitions, and at its best, one of the purest of art forms.”
McIntosh was artful, using a plethora of short jabs and body punches throughout the contest. Mike Cosby, from Mission Hill was among the Fenway Park throng who enjoyed the bout.
Back in the day Mike was the superb right fielder on the famous Owls Nest team in the M.H. Softball League.
Condolences to the family of Joe Goode, who passed away last month.
Joe was a nice man, and I have fond memories of him when he was my neighbor at 32 Tobin Court.
Joe, a Boston Trade School graduate, was a hard-working Local 17 sheetmetal worker.
R.I.P., Joe, who lived in Easton and leaves his loving wife of 56 years, Maureen (Sullivan) Goode, and the couple’s two children, Joe and Maureen.
I attended a first-rate birthday party for Randace Rauscher last month, attended by more than a hundred people at the Jamaica Plain Veterans Post.
It was a milestone birthday for Randace, who lives in Jamaica Plain, and was the Director of J.P. Main Streets when Tom Menino was Mayor.
The Michael Greenstein Ensemble provided great music and notable special guest, singer and songwriter Rick Berlin, sang ‘Force of Nature’ to the classy birthday lady.
It was nice meeting Randace’s delightful sister, Edna McGoldrick, a lawyer from New York. Randace previously lived in Mission Hill and occasionally stops in Mike’s Donuts to check on the boys.
Randace’s best friend, Kacy Hughes, did a superb job organizing the event, and the food was delicious.
Congratulations to Wesley Lynch, an excellent 10-year-old Mission Hill baseball player who was selected to the R.B.I. All Star team.
The R.B.I. League is sponsored by the Red Sox. Baseball is in the Lynch’s family genes. Trevor Lynch,14, plays for the Mission Hill Pirates and 18-year-old Dylon Lynch plays in the Dorchester R.B.I. League.
Young Kian Lynch is eager to get back on the field while recovering from an injury.
Lauren Alden, a civil engineer student at UMass Amherst, landed a nice summer internship at Suffolk Construction in Boston.
Lauren enjoys her Mike’s Donuts and visits the shop before work. Her dad is Eric Alden, president of Longwood Properties in Mission Hill and president of Mission Hill Main Streets.
Lauren’s twin sister, Kendall Alden, studies neuroscience at the University of Vermont.
Along with their intellect, the twins have captivating looks and sweet dispositions.
Eric and lovely Christine Alden are justifiably proud parents.
Condolences to the family of Billy Chalifoux, who passed away last week.
I knew Billy since the old days in the Mission Hill project, and he later served in the U.S. Air Force. Billy was bright and earned a master’s degree in engineering.
Billy, who was recently dealing with health problems, was a good guy, and he’ll be missed.
Every summer, several Mission Hill party-seekers take a mini-trip to Jo’s Nautical, a popular tavern in Hull, and the date this year is July 24.
The occasion, which is organized by Mike King from Calumet Street and now living in Hull, has been dubbed ‘Mission Hull Day.’
With nice weather, the group hangs out on the patio outside the bar. There’ll be tall tales told, reminiscing, and laughs; in fact, the king of the one liners, John ‘The Shoe’ McCann will be attending.
Back in the old days, the Shoe was called ‘The Henny Youngman of Mission Hill.’
If you don’t want to drive, you can take the boat from Long Wharf.
Tony “Amps’ Pitts and John Jackson, two great Mission Hill men, were acknowledged at a State House ceremony last week for their guidance and for being superb role models to our youth.
Amps, a basketball referee for 45 years, received the ‘Unsung Titus Award,’ named after longtime UMass Boston basketball coach and AD Charlie Titus.
John Jackson, who has mentored kids at the Tobin Community Center for years, received the Rodney Hughes Award, named after the late and beloved man from the Mission Hill project. John is retiring at the end of July.
Maurice can be reached at [email protected]