Story of Dan Passacantilli ’90

MOVING ON TO BIGGER THINGS

Story of Dan Passacantilli ’90, a North End Wonder!

Few records last forever. Sooner or later someone always comes along to set a new standard. Dan Passacantilli ’90, however, lays claim to two 36-year-old Malden Catholic records, and there’s a good possibility they will be his forever! They’re not in athletics, though Dan wore the blue-and-gold for four years on the MC gridiron. He played in the newly built 1986 grass field, Brother Gilbert Stadium. He also competed for two years for MC basketball. These special records, though, are more a measure of his heart and a marker of his personality. Dan Passacantilli is the youngest donor in Malden Catholic history, and he is the only student almost to be thrown out of school before even the first day of formal classes! Let’s explain.

Picture nine conservatively dressed men, most in their mid-30s, several older, filing into Felicia’s North End restaurant in 1986. Conventioneers? Former Bruins? Celebrating Celtics? No… Xaverian Brothers out for an annual end-of-summer community meal. Among them were new MC Headmaster Brother Robert Sullivan ’45, Assistant Headmaster Brother Thomas Puccio, Assistant Headmaster Brother Edward Bozzo and faculty members Brother Dan Cremin and Brother Tim Hoey. Their busboy: Dan Passacantilli. Though most faces were still unfamiliar to Dan, now in his freshman year, he did recognize Brother Cremin and then made the connection with the others. Soon, several bottles of delicious red wine arrived at the table, compliments of Dan. Thus, Dan became the youngest donor in Malden Catholic history and started a lifelong friendship with Brother Sullivan and a caring relationship with the Xaverian Brothers!

The second “record,” which Dan recalls as one of his most memorable Malden Catholic experiences, goes back again to his freshman year. Dan shared this story himself while addressing guests at a lavish party he hosted this summer at The Newbury, Boston. The occasion was the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Dan’s technology firm, Blue Front Technology Group. In thanking some of the over 200 family members, personal friends and business associates for the roles they had played in his life and in his business, he singled out MC’s English Department Chair and longtime Summer School Director Ms. Angela Lee. He thanked her for “not throwing him out of MC before he had even started”! Dan went on to explain that as an orientation prerequisite of his attending MC, he was to participate in some summer classes. He had not, however, adequately mastered many of the subtleties of good classroom decorum. He soon found himself sitting in Ms. Lee’s office with his mom and dad, explaining why he should not be attending East Boston High School. Happily, Ms. Lee saw Dan’s promise and gave him a second chance.

Recalling that experience reminded Dan that it was not easy for a kid like him from the North End to transition to “suburban” Malden. Born in Boston, and still living in the North End today, Dan grew up on the lower end of Hanover Street with brother Stephen ’93 and sister Alissa in a tightly knit Italian community, perhaps unlike any other in the country. With the aroma of Italian gravy wafting from open windows, as a child, he would make his way just four doors down to #424, the Blue Front Restaurant (in whose

honor he named his company). There Dan would join his cousins to work with the owners – his grandmother and grandfather – to make the place a favorite gathering spot in the neighborhood. The North End was a special place! To outsiders, it could seem like a foreign country, but for Dan, it was the place that gave him his edge!

Dan had no previous ties with Malden Catholic. His grandfather was a BC High grad, but Dan and his parents, comfortable with MC’s family feel and the Xaverian Brothers’ approach to academics and athletics, were convinced that Malden Catholic would be his best fit. Other family members were soon among our alums: brother Stephen ’93, as well as cousins Paul ’94 and Robert Passacantilli ’06. For a 14-year-old, getting from Boston to Malden every day was not quick nor easy, so Dan was glad to have the company of a close friend, fellow 8th-grader and North End neighbor Mike Dello Russo ’90. First, the train to Sullivan Station, then, the bus up Broadway, picking up more MC students along the way, including good friend Ben D'Agostino ’90 and a heartily welcomed contingent of Pope John girls. Finally, a long walk through Stewart’s parking lot would get them to Crystal Street. Dan recalls, “Back then it was an even longer trip culturally than geographically.” Being at MC was “a completely different experience for a kid from the North End, from an Italian immigrant enclave.” MC was his first encounter with organized team sports; the first time surrounded by kids who lived in houses instead of apartment buildings. He was amazed that classmates had never had a good meatball sub; surprised that he would hang out at night with MC friends at Melrose’s Mt. Hood Golf Course. He did not shy away from new experiences and was soon the president of the MC Ski Club on his way to Innsbruck, Austria, and Interlaken, Switzerland, with Brother Joe Britt’s Ski Club.

Faculty favorites for Dan included social studies teacher Mr. Rick Mazzei and Dean of Discipline Mr. Tom Arria. “I was in his office a lot,” Dan confesses! It was a special honor, however, when Malden Catholic presented Dan with the 2015 Brother Robert Sullivan Medal. From that first time at Felicia’s, Dan had found in Brother Sullivan an inspirational friend and role model. Brother Sullivan and Dan indeed shared many “mandated” chats, when Dan had been directed to his office, but those were gateways to respect and to a lasting relationship. Brother Sullivan’s empathy always tilted in the direction of the student. Anytime Dan spoke with Brother Sullivan, he could expect sharp insight, straight-talk and a challenge to grow. Brother Sullivan mixed piercing honesty with sage advice and no lack of humor. Dan was pleased to invite Brother Sullivan to participate at his wedding and was happy that he could attend subsequent christenings for Dan’s children, Adriana and Martino. Following a post-graduate year in Vermont, Dan attended the University of Miami, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business. Thereafter, he spent considerable time in South Florida, where he has an office.

As a young businessman, Dan cut his teeth with the telephone company XO Communications for four years. Thanks to the Telecom Act of 1996, authored by then-Congressman Ed Markey (MC ‘64) a newly deregulated industry opened doors to whole new sectors of the marketplace. Dan decided to go on his own. Blue Front Technology Group resulted, and Dan’s acumen, powerful client engagement and incredible work ethic grew it to one of the largest telecom and technology agencies in the Northeast. Though he claims that “work is my only hobby,” he is an avid Boston sports fan, beachgoer and traveler, often making it to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for University of Miami football games. He is also a regular attendee and supporter of the annual Heisman Trophy Trust Gala, as a guest of 1992 Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta.

Dan’s appreciation for Malden Catholic has grown over the years. Even soon after college, he could tell that MC had put him ahead in the game. “You see that you’ve come from a non-elitist institution with strong values, respect for others and a gritty, real-world approach. You can work with people and apply street smarts. You can’t teach street smarts, but we at MC had it in spades!” He also learned from MC that, “Wherever you are in life, whatever your station, you’re not precluded from ‘pushing through’ on to bigger things!” He’s thankful to Malden Catholic for its history of “taking students where they are and moving them ahead.” Dan recognizes that “Malden Catholic has been a great home for economically lower-and-middle-class students with grit and guts, providing them with a far richer experience than they might otherwise have had.” He points out, “Of all your philanthropic interests, you won’t get a better return of investment than with MC!”

Dan’s generous heart at Felicia’s and the spirit, determination and resilience with which he met the challenges of his high school journey, augured well for the man he would become. He did not disappoint! Malden Catholic today takes pride in Dan’s character, successes and loyalty, just as the school once took care in nurturing the young man. We suspect that when, someday in the distant future, he steps onto God’s winner’s platform, it will be with a North End wisecrack and at least two MC records still intact. As Dan left Crystal Street this past June following the celebration of Brother Dan’s retirement, he could be heard offering Brother Puccio a North End invitation, “You oughta leave Melrose now and then, Brother; see how the real Italians live!”