By Maurice ‘Mossy’ Martin
I was honored to attend Brigade General Enoch ‘Woody’ Woodhouse’s 99th birthday celebration Jan. 14 at Victory Point Restaurant in Quincy.
Mission Hill Post 327 Commander Col. George Rollins was the Master of Ceremonies for the stellar event, and he introduced several notable speakers, including Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, former Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, and Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan.
Woody’s wonderful wife, Stella, looked terrific in her glittering dress, and other noteworthy faces included Chrissy Dwyer, public relations director at the N.E. Baptist Hospital, M.H; Main Street Director Courtney Wright; and Jamaica Plain Veterans Post Commander Tony Broccoli.
Thanks to Betty Veneto, proprietor of Ginger Betty’s in Quincy, for making a flavorful birthday cake for Woody. Betty loves our veterans, and she sends her delicious cookies to our military men and women. Ginger Betty and I were teammates on the outstanding Mission Hill Liquors softball team years ago, when Betty was a slick-fielding second baseman.
James P. McGettrick was also at the birthday party. James is the grandson of the late and beloved Jimmy McGettrick, who owned the Beachcomber, a great music venue across from Wollaston Beach, for a half century.
Back in the day Mission Hillers would journey to the Beachcomber on warm summer weekend nights. The land is now Beachcomber Park, and there is a stone monument on the site honoring Jimmy.
It was sad hearing of the passing last month of Pat Colton, a wonderful and glamorous woman from the Mission Hill project.
With her charm and awesome looks, Pat’s presence would light up a room. I hadn’t seen Pat lately, but I loved to reminisce with her during the waning days at the Mission Hill Post bar.
I often told Pat I was a starstruck teenager when I first saw her 60 years ago at the ‘Dedham Pits,’ a popular Mission Hill swimming site, and a few years later, when she served me drinks at the Outside Inn, a voguish Ale House near Fenway Park.
Pat loved parties, and she helped organize several Mission Hill–Jamaica Plain reunions at Cedars of Lebanon in J.P. More important than her good looks, Pat was so nice and she had a big heart. She leaves a daughter Danielle Hoolley, and donations in Pat’s memory can be made to St. Judes Hospital.
Congratulations to Brendan O’Neill, who graduated from the Boston Police Academy last month.
Brendan, the proud son of legendary Tobin Court man, Jack O’Neill, and his wife, Evelyn O’Neill, started working at Precinct 14C in Dorchester. Blessed with street smarts and common sense, Brendan will be an excellent police officer.
The O’Neill family hosted a nice celebration party for Brendan at the Elks Post in West Roxbury with an open bar, good food and the cookies were so tasty, I put one in my pocket for the next day.
Happy birthday (Jan. 31) to good-looking Janet Earley.
Janet and her mother, Maureen, joined my son, Rob, and myself last month for lunch at the Corrib in West Roxbury, and it’s always great to see these close friends.
Gerry O’Connell will celebrate his 72nd birthday Feb.11.
Gerry was my teammate on the 1979 Killilea Club championship football team. Gerry wore #51 and was our sturdy middle linebacker. Killilea’s previous middle linebacker, Frank Pedersen, also wore #51, and Frank was inducted into the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003 at a ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
Condolences to the family of Tina McCann, who passed away last month.
Although I didn’t know Tina well, I’m friends with her brothers from the Tobin Court days, and the McCanns are a fine family.
Paul St. Clair passed away unexpectedly on the day before New Year’s. Paul was a brilliant man who taught history, and he was an accomplished musician. His music can be heard on SoundCloud.
R.I.P., Paul.
Joe Luna passed away last month.
Joe worked in several Mission Hill taverns, and he was an excellent bartender and a good guy. Joe served me several beers back in the early ‘70s at the Peter Bent Lounge (currently Penguin Pizza).
I’d often go to that bar (sometimes called ‘The Gong Show’) on Saturday afternoons, with my gambling and card-playing buddies, Big Jim, Dave Hardy, Danny Murphy, and Kenny Galvin.
Joe Luna always made us feel welcome.
Happy birthday (Feb. 20) to Elmira Kembora, the wonderful woman who serves me my coffee and English muffins every morning at Mike’s Donuts.
Good luck in retirement to Rex Tayag, who was an orthopedic technician at the N.E. Baptist Hospital for decades.
Rex is a great guy. I worked at the Baptist for six years in housekeeping, and I enjoyed stopping by Rex’s office for friendly chats.
I stopped in the newly opened Flour the other day for a delicious raisin walnut scone. The bakery (previously J.P. Licks) at 1 Brigham Place was packed with customers.
Have a great time at your Super Bowl party. Patriots, 24-Seattle, 23, in a nail – biter.
Maurice can be reached at [email protected].