Belated condolences to the family of lifelong Mission Hill resident Winifred Dunn, who passed away in November at 94. Winifred was a beautiful woman who leaves four children, including Boston Police Officer Richie Caulfield. Winifred was married to George “Sonny” Dunn, a Mission Hill oil delivery man in the ’50s and ’60s. Sonny was also the bartender at the Hitching Post on Huntington Ave.
Fine police work was executed by Boston Police Officer Tom Killion in November, who assisted in the arrest of a suspect who allegedly murdered an elderly man in Brighton. Tom is the son of the late John Killion and Jeanne Killion (Hart) from Mission Hill. John was my teammate and the captain of the 1967 Mission High School baseball team.
Longtime Mission Hill resident Emma Lane spread Christmas cheers as one of the chosen “platinum singers” who sang at the Cyclorama on Tremont Street in Boston. Emma and the “platinums” also crooned at the Tubman House before a large audience. The Tubman House is at Mass. and Columbus avenues, and was previously the Hi Hat.
Thanks to my Mission Hill neighbor Mara St. Cyr for comforting me with her delicious Irish bread over the holiday season.
It was good seeing former local football player John Clifford, who stopped by Mike’s Donuts last week. John and I were teammates on the Killilea Club Park League Football Championship team in 1979. The former defensive tackle, who lives in Woburn, is currently an MBTA police officer. John works out of Charlestown in the revenue department—another Mission Hill money man.
It was a nice gesture by the fine folks at St. Brendan’s Church in Dorchester on Christmas Day, who welcomed home Lt. Col. George Rollins with a spontaneous standing ovation during Mass. George, from the Mission Hill projects, recently returned home from a tour in Afghanistan.
Happy birthday to Janet Earley, who will celebrate on Jan. 31. Janet, a lovely young lady, and I have been friends since she was a little girl, back in the days when our families shared a cottage on the shores of Hull, Mass., overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
A feather in the hat goes to local artist Elta Wilson for her acrylic canvas painting “Sacred Chant,” which was chosen for exhibition next month. Elta, an M.F.A. student, will have her painting permanently displayed at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Boston, across from Park Street Station. Elta is a lovely lady who brightens Mike’s Donuts when she occasionally joins me and my group for coffee and muffins.
Condolences to the family of Joe Mangiacotti, formerly of Mission Hill, who passed away last week. I fondly recall Joe from when I played basketball for Mission Hill when Joe attended every game. Joe was always helping the team, whether is was distributing oranges at halftime or carrying the basketballs. More importantly, Joe was there with his infectious smile.
Condolences are extended to the family of Donna Anderson, who passed away recently. Donna, sister of Susan Flynn, was a beautiful woman who graduated from Mission High School in 1977.
Happy 50th birthday to Joe Sheehan, who reached the milestone Jan. 5. Joe celebrated the event with his family, including beautiful sisters, with dinner at Flann O’Brien’s, with homemade cake for dessert.
I enjoyed watching the Boston College-Harvard basketball game from courtside of sold-out Conte Forum last week with fellow Mission High School graduates Mike Killion and Bill Mullin and Bill’s charming daughter, Kerry Mullin. Bill, a Harvard alumnus, cheered on his victorious alma mater.
An interesting sidebar occurred in the first half, when the B.C. Eagle mascot left the court and bonded with Kerry. He was a smart Eagle, somehow knowing Kerry is a B.C. alumna
It’s a girl! Congrats to Dennis Curran and Marian Curran on the birth of their beautiful daughter Nia Leone last month. It’s nice that the Mission Hill Currans are expanding, as she is the ninth grandchild of Robert Curran (Mission High School, ’66) and Mary Curran (Casey). Nia Leone was named after her late great-grandmother, Leone Casey.