Townie Todbits

REMEMBERING BOB FITZGERALD

Recently read an obituary in the Boston Globeon the passing of Robert P. Fitzgerald, grandson of legendary Boston Mayor John «Honey Fitz» Fitzgerald. His son Robert Jr. stated, «When you›d walked  down the streets of Boston with him, it wasn’t just him, it wasn’t just the guys in suits who came over to say hello. He rally knew everybody and enjoyed everybody.” He roots were very Charlestown but he lived in Milton too. ( Isn’t that where rich Irish went to years ago from the city?) Today, the rich Irish are moving back to Southie and Charlestown.

He just passed away on October 5 at his Prudential Center home. He son said he truly cared about people and always showed it. I can remember my mother telling me she just met President Kennedy›s cousin down at the bank. The portable bank was located at the corner of Harrison Avenue and East Newton Street serving hospital workers like my father who worked at Boston City Hospital. The bank was named Harbor National and the bank manager was Bob Fitzgerald. A very talkative and pleasant kind of guy. A people friendly person. He was on a first name basis with both my parents and almost everyone else he met during histenure at Harbor National.in the South End branch

I was about 20 or 21 years old at the time. I remember talking to him too and once asked him why he didn›t run for office like his more famous cousins,Jack, Bobby and Teddy Kennedy. He just laughed and  said he left the family business to them. He laughed and said, “Why don’t you run?” I laughed too.

I see his face still in my memory frozen in time like so many other memories like the day I met James Michael Curly inside Boston City Hospital and talked politics with him for 5 minutes as an 8 year old.

 When I think of the Fitzgerald family I still think Wood Street around the corner from Thompson Square where the Fitzgeralds still lived when I was a kid.

It looks like from the obituary, he lived a full and good life. He loved and was loved in return. He made people happy by just talking with them. He will be both remembered and missed.

FIREFIGHTERS WERE FILLING THE BOOT FOR MDA AT MALL ONCE AGAIN

Since 1954, Boston Firefighters have volunteered to «Fill the Boot» in the fight along side the Muscular Dystrophy Association to both assist patients and cure this disease . Recently caught the guys from Ladder 9 and Engine 32 down at the Bunker Hill Mall.

The guys from Engine 32 were by Papa Ginos and CVS while the guys from Ladder 9 were up by Whole Foods with two great props, Engine 32 and Ladder 9 parked right there.

 I suggested a contest for both crews. Whichever crew raised the most money would get dinner served by the other crew. Both sides seemed to like that idea. Remember it was for a good cause but dinner served sounds good too.

POLITO TIME AT WARREN TAVERN

 Last week (October 26) I was having dinner at the Warren Tavern (best Irish coffees in town) and discovered that the Karyn Politico was holding a time at this establishment. The place was packed and a guy with a guitar was playing some soft rock. In Charlestown, they never stop politicking and the Warren Tavern is a popular place to gather.

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