SBOL_04_06_2023

Son Writes Book as Tribute to Late Father

By Ginger DeShaney

To deal with the unexpected loss of his father, Kevin P. Martin Jr. started writing down stories and life lessons he had learned from his dad.

“Part of it was the grief processing … and as crazy as it sounds, I didn’t want to forget him. This was my way of keeping him in the present moment rather than the past,” Kevin Jr. said. “This was kind of my way of dealing.”

Without realizing it, Kevin Jr. had penned 50,000 words. His wife of 30 years, Lisa, knew his writings were something special. She encouraged him to turn the writing into larger concepts, which turned into

chapters. “And before you knew it, unknowingly, I had a book,” said Kevin, who is a CPA by trade but is also a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Kevin P. Martin Sr. had a very healthy life but when he started having issues, the family chased a diagnosis for about a year. A month after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Kevin Sr., 78, passed away on Sept. 10, 2019.

“All is Well: Life Lessons from a Preacher’s Father” will be available on June 20. Preorders are now open on Amazon at https://a.co/d/cKPC2vk. The book is published by Skyhorse Publishing and distributed by Simon & Schuster.

One hundred percent of the book’s profits will go to ALS research, care charities, and support organizations.

Kevin Sr.’s lessons inform his son’s life. The book features

lessons on practicality, resilience, bucket lists, savoring life, leadership, parenting, giving, forgiveness, giving your kids love, faith, and education, and how to live a life with few regrets.

“My hope is that every reader, despite there being lots of lessons, can pull one or two or three things to really live their best life ever,” said Kevin Jr., who lives in Milton now but is still very involved in the South Boston philanthropic community.

When Kevin Sr. was in the hospital his last five days, he was intubated and couldn’t talk, so he used a notepad to communicate. His very last words on that notepad were: “All is well.”

“And it was comforting for me, as sad as it was, to know that his final words weren’t ‘I’m in pain’ or ‘Get the nurse,’ or something much more heavy,” said Kevin, Jr. “It was kind of

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Sunday Mass April 9th 6:13 a.m. on Castle Island

Easter

‘All is Well’

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‘All is Well’

Catholic Academy, Gate of Heaven, and South Boston Neighborhood House. Kevin Sr.’s beloved wife, Claire, who still lives in their South Boston house, continues to support the family’s charities.

One of the book’s chapters is called “Giving” and lists about a dozen charities Kevin Sr. supported.

“I talk about the notion of how we can give time, treasure, and talent, and the importance of giving, and how my father was engaged beyond writing the check,” Kevin Jr. said.

a sense of this is OK.” That phrase has become the family’s motto, including a few family member tattoos of the same.

Kevin Sr. held several South Boston nonprofits close to his heart, including Julie’s Family Learning Program, The Gavin House, The Laboure Center, Marian Manor, South Boston

Kevin Sr. was modest, quiet, humble, and all about family, friends, community, and God.

A pillar in South Boston, he touched many lives. As a testament to his impact in the neighborhood, more than a thousand people attended his wake, which had been moved to the basement of Gate of Heaven to accommodate everyone.

Kevin Jr., an only child, had a special relationship with his parents.

He was very close to his father, even working with him for 30 years at Kevin P. Martin & Associates, P.C., the company Kevin Sr. founded. They took many family vacations together and their Cape houses were just yards away from each other.

“Golf, chess, and cribbage were staples in our house –

my dad loved to talk over a game,” Kevin Jr. recalled.

“Some of my favorite conversations with him happened at Fenway Park – something about a hot dog under the lights,” said Kevin Jr., who is now the Massachusetts Office Managing Partner at CohnReznick, a national accounting and consulting firm. “I would give anything to have one more game with him.”

Ray Flynn, former Boston Mayor and Ambassador to the Vatican, had high praise for the book: “In ‘All Is Well,’ Kevin Martin, Jr. captures his father’s wisdom, wit, and humility. It’s an endearing profile of a man who spoke loudly with few words, especially about his faith. In life, Kevin achieved success, but in death, he achieved his dream of togetherness with Jesus and his family.”

Kevin Jr. will be promoting the book with tours, book signings (at some Major League Baseball parks), and other events. He hopes the community embraces the book just as his dad embraced the community.

“My father loved South Boston. He never wanted to move out,” Kevin Jr. said. “He just loved walking, bumping into family and friends, engaging in his charity work, and he loved getting his hot dog down at Castle Island.

“In the big picture, the book is about the good life, well-lived.”

Kevin and his dad in Ireland in the mid-1990s

Join the Katy and Ellie Collaborative for Special Event

A yoga benefit to serve homeless adults and teens on April 16th

By Carol Masshardt

Ellie Morin died on December 2011, at age twenty of an overdose, and Katy Harrington of cancer in 2017. The Morin family of South Boston was left to grieve the loss of a caring, kind and promising daughter just beginning adult life. Michelle Harrington was still in shock when her much loved and gutsy sister, Katy Donovan, died at forty-nine, nine months after a diagnosis of vaginal cancer. Unfortunately, these are not unheard-of stories. What is different is the outreach and collaborations the families have since formed to remember and serve others, including an event on April 16th from 9:3011:30 at the Artists for Humanity. On that day, Patti Morin, mother of Ellie and two older children, Matt and Katie, will join forces with Michelle Harrington, to create a time of calm and wellness. They invited popular yoga instructor, David Vendetti, to share in a yoga session with all donations benefiting adults and teens experiencing homelessness. This is only one initiative of the Ellie Project. Years have passed, but grief inevitably still grips Patti, her husband Scott and the rest of the family, but it was the first year in 2011 on the anniversary of her death, when Matt, then in his twenties, had an inspiration. “It was a year after, and we asked ourselves what we could do on that day. Matt suggested we buy and collect gloves and hats and give them to people who needed them, and that is how it all began in 2014, said Patti Morin. “It has always been an organic kind of thing and we tried different ways to help, and eventually it led to the Ellie Project, a nonprofit.” Though still sorrowful, she also has a determination and a life force that has propelled her and the project forward.

Patti, a former English

teacher at Pelham High School in NH, sees education as transcending a classroom. So, it is not only raising funds for people living on the street, but for those in transitional housing and for teens in programs. And, in a unique approach she engages suburban high schools to have “hands-on’ experience with the people whose lives are impacted. Through discussion and preparation, the students with adult mentors help to package, deliver and engage with people that have different challenges. “Through talking to people, it humanizes them, and I hope they have greater empathy and less judgment.”

“It may sound unusual to go from a child of addiction to homelessness,” she said, “but I’m informed by how hard life can be.” So, the need for socks, which she said is the most needed and most often overlooked, and other basics, absorbs her energy, but it is more the stories and lives that motivate her to seek donations from businesses and individuals, to develop new collaborations, and to engage high school students to think more deeply.

“It’s about a feeling a connection more than anything else.

A natural match in loss they have suffered and vigor they possess, Michelle Harrington, also of South Boston, met Patti Morin through the yoga world in South Boston.

“My sister was gruff, a city worker with firefighters all her adult life, and you wouldn’t know right away she had this amazing soft side. Particularly at Christmas, she would hate to see anyone go without and you saw her heart,” said Michelle. Katy left three children, two in their twenties and a thirteenyear-old, and a mourning family.

“I had a hard time after,” said Michelle. “I was depressed, and gained a lot of weight and finally went to my first yoga

class but couldn’t do anything. David Vendetti gave my private lessons to start, and it changed things for me,” she said.

“The first year after she died, I knew someone who worked at Project Place and collected things for the teenagers at Christmas to honor Katy. You know, people don’t understand the things kids go through. What teenager wants to be homeless? They suffer in ways people don’t see,” she said

“Does the loss get easier? It does, but there are days when your dissolve into heartache. I think about her all the time, but I take her with me,” said Patti.

“How can we be more compassionate?” is a question Michelle Harrington asks as

her grief is also transformed. Join Patti Morin, Michelle Harrington and friends and neighbors on April 16th, a Sunday morning at the beautiful Artists for Humanity on 100 W 2nd St. and get a yoga experience. Donate for those who need it most. All levels are welcomed and as Michelle Harrington said, “It will be a great time. We hope people come to just feel the vibe.” It is also one more step to transform what could be heartache into a time of joy, self-care and connection. What a beautiful way to spend a Sunday morning and help remember.

(Carol Masshardt can be reached at carolhardt@ comcast.net)

Michelle Harrington of the Katy-Ellie Collaboration

Patti Morin-Founder of the Ellie Project

Wreath Laid at Vietnam Memorial

By Rick Winterson

Wednesday, March 29, was the 50th Anniversary of the end of the War in Vietnam, which was officially ceased by then President Richard Nixon on Thursday, March 29, 1973. Specifically, this was the date when the last American soldier left Vietnam. The Vietnam Memorial in South Boston was dedicated on September 13, 1981 – well before the Vietnam War concluded and the Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated.

Thomas J. (Tommy) Lyons, a Vietnam Marine veteran himself and a leader of the committee to create South Boston’s Vietnam Memorial, called for a wreath laying on the Memorial at 3 p.m., an exact 50 years after

President Nixon’s order was put into effect. Also attending were City Council President Ed Flynn, state Rep. David Biele, Boston’s Commissioner of Veterans’ Services Rob Santiago, the Commonwealth’s Secretary

of Veterans’ Services Jon Santiago, and several veterans. Those in attendance commented briefly in several ways. There was a reminder that veterans who made it back from Vietnam encountered significant criticism and outright bias against them. Gratitude was expressed for the sacrifices made

by veterans from Massachusetts, including the 1,500 who did not make it back. Twenty-five (25) of those veterans who never returned were from South Boston. Once again, we were reminded that we must not forget them. The wreath was then placed, solemnly and silently, on the Vietnam Memorial’s plinth.

Tom Lyons, veterans, officials, Comm. Rob Santiago, and Sec’y Jon Santiago at wreath-laying.

John Allison: Now a Reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard

by Rick Winterson

We congratulate John Allison for completing his highly concentrated, three-week DEPOT program, which was the major step in his becoming a Reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard.

DEPOT is another example of the American military’s love of abbreviations. It stands for “Direct Entry Petty Officer Training”. John’s DEPOT, which is actually a kind of Basic Training, was conducted at Cape May, New Jersey. This is the base where all U.S. Coast Guard enlisted training programs are held (officers receive their training at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut).

DEPOT isn’t a program in which a Coast Guard candidate simply enrolls – he or she must first qualify after submitting a formal application. Obviously, verifying American citizenship begins this process, which is then followed by a detailed record examination ranging from physical condition to background checks, including a check for outstanding debts. John’s DEPOT class numbered 21; DEPOT classes can include other Reservist recruits (like John), current members of other branches of the military services, or even law enforcement personnel. Passing the physical fitness portion of John’s DEPOT program required that he perform 29 push-ups and 38 sit-ups, run a mile and a half in 13 minutes, and swim half a kilometer (roughly three-tenths of a mile or 1,500 feet – five football fields). We mention this to show that even though DEPOT is only three weeks long, the Coast Guard isn’t kidding around. They demand trainees be in good shape physically;

gymnasium exercises and drills extended over the whole three weeks of John’s DEPOT.

John’s training included frequent oral quizzes, which were sprung on the students without warning. Like any other military training, there was a constant emphasis on neatness and good behavior. The first subjects he studied were firefighting, crew rotation, and CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation. During the later weeks, more advanced topics included computers/websites, administrative measures, and even civil rights, all of which made for lengthy days in the DEPOT classroom.

John has now been sworn in as an E-3 Seaman in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve; he has been assigned to the Port Security Unit in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. He’ll serve there for one weekend a month and two weeks annually – 36 days per year. John reported to his unit in Buzzards Bay for the first time last Saturday; he might have been assigned initial duties as a helmsman or a bosun’s mate.

John Allison is a lifelong Bostonian. When he was two, John and his family relocated from East Boston to South Boston, first in a home near M Street Park and then to Old Harbor Street where he lived from 2006 until 2020. His father, Robert “Bob” Allison, is still the President of the South Boston Historical Society. John attended St. Brigid School – now the South Boston Catholic Academy – and then graduated from Boston Latin. He received his History degree from Suffolk University and has completed an online MBA from Fisher College. John presently lives at his own condo in the South End neighborhood near the intersection of East Berkeley Steet and Harrison Avenue. He enjoys sailing at the Charles River Basin Club on the river’s Boston side. And John

is now a gardener. Believe it or not, he managed to obtain one of those 10’ x 10’ plots in the South End’s community gardens – his first crops: tulips and garlic. After college, John was employed as the Mayor’s Neighborhood Liaison for South Boston. He is currently a Community Relations Specialist in the City of Boston’s Office of Veterans’ Services. As just two examples of his responsibilities, in this position John sees to Boston’s black-and-gold Hero Squares and is working on oral history projects that tell Boston’s neighborhood stories from the last century. Think of it – priceless history, spoken from memory, in the age of computers! We emphasize what his work involves, because John’s enlistment in the Coast Guard Reserve is yet another part of his career dedication to Public Service. In his quiet way, John states, “The Coast

John Allison joined the Coast Guard Reserve; he just completed his Basic Training (note his buzzcut).

Guard Reserve is another Public Service opportunity for me, with various possibilities that extend out over the next several years.”

Thursday 4/13 from 5 PM - 8 PM @ Hampton Inn

Address: 670 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210

Wednesday 4/19 from 5 PM - 8 PM @ Tynan School

Address: 650 E Fourth St, Boston, MA 02127

Monday 5/1 from 5 PM - 8 PM @ District Hall

Address: 75 Northern

The House is where the Heart is

by Rick Winterson

The South Boston Neighborhood House held its 2023 Benefit and Auction. The motto of the Neighborhood House is “the house is where the heart is”.

Executive Director Kathy Lafferty took to the stage in the Plaza Ballroom. She mentioned how much she loved her work at the Neighborhood House and enthusiastically thanked all those involved – her Staff, the Board, the many volunteers, all elected officials, and the generous Neighborhood House contributors. After Kathy, Mayor Wu spoke of how much the Neighborhood House had accomplished during its long history. Then, the team who entered this year’s Boston Marathon to raise funds for the Neighborhood House took a bow – Michael Bannon, Lukas Buckley, Briana Crowley, Fallon

Creta, Meredith Knowles, Jacob Leibowitz, Hillary Prager, and Susan Hurley (Charity Teams).

The Award Ceremony was the evening’s high point. A video about Amy Murray’s devoted career at the Neighborhood House showed why the annual “Angel Award” is named for her. After Board Chair Kevin Benedix reminisced about the two Awardees, Amy’s 2023 “Angel Award” was jointly conferred on Jeremy Sclar and Yanni Tsipis.

Both gentlemen have extensively supported the Neighborhood House; they are, respectively, the Chairman and CEO of WS Development, and the Senior Vice President for Development of WS Development. The Joseph “Dodo” Nee “Champion” Award followed. Another video showed just how much Dodo did for all of South Boston during his highly active lifetime. Dodo’s son Brian Nee and Michael Kineavy then conferred Dodo’s “Champion”

Award on Jerome Smith. He is the Head of Community Engagement for Amazon’s New England Region – in charge of community services from the Amazon Building in South Boston Seaport. The 2023 Benefit and Auction was a memorable event in a memorable locale. And the 15 members of the Neighborhood House Event Committee deserve a great deal of credit for their hard – but successful – work, as well as for their creativity.

Photos by Ginger DeShaney

EASTER SCHEDULE

Holy Thursday:

St Peter Church 7:00 PM (Lithuanian)

St Monica Church 7:00 PM (Bilingual/English & Spanish)

Jueves Santo, Celebracion A Las 7:00 PM

Good Friday: St Peter Church 7:00 PM

St Monica Church 3:00 PM (English) & 7:00 PM (Spanish)

Viernes Santos, Celebracion A Las 7:00 PM

Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil: St Monica Church 8:00 PM Bilingual (English & Spanish)

Sabado De Gloria, Celebracion A Las 8:00 PM

Easter Sunday:

St. Peter Church: Sundays, 9:00am (English), 10:30am (Lithuanian)

St. Monica Church: Sundays, 10:30am (English), 12:30pm (Spanish)

Gate of Heaven & St. Brigid Parishes

Easter Mass Schedule

Fridays During Lent Stations of the Cross

3:00PM at Gate of Heaven Church

Gate of Heaven Church

Holy Thursday Mass

7:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Church

Good Friday Service

Veneration of the Cross with Holy Communion

3:00 p.m. - Gate of Heaven Church

4:30 p.m. - St. Augustine Chapel

7:00 p.m. - St. Brigid Church

Gate of Heaven & St. Brigid Parishes with St. Augustine Chapel

Easter Mass Schedule

Saturday, Easter Vigil - April 8 - 7:30 p.m. at Gate of Heaven Church

Easter Sunday Mass - April 9 6:13 a.m. Sunrise

Mass on Castle Island

Saint Brigid Church - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Gate of Heaven Church 9: a.m. and 12 Noon

S

SPOKE Gathers

Future goals and funding were discussed, including a move to a larger space in the Old Colony/Anne Lynch Development. Jim Mitrano from Waypoint KLA was present to discuss this move.

POKE is a non-profit agency that uses art to connect ourselves and others, especially to resolve divisions in our communities and occasionally in our own lives. SPOKE’s leadership recently met at the Union Club in Boston.Dr. Rohit Chandra, SPOKE’s Board Chair, was the Union Club host. He invited his guests for drinks, a supper, and conversation about the future. We’ll quote Dr. Chandra, “This is a pivotal

moment for our organization, as it seeks to raise the funds it needs to realize its vision of art as a force for healing, understanding, and community.”

The program began with a “spoken word performance” by Letta Neely and Amanda Shea. After that, Dr. Chandra welcomed everyone. Kate Bennett (Boston Housing Authority), Barry Callis (Mass. Public Health), and

Neva Coakley-Grice (Boston Public Schools) each gave brief talks. The program closed with short messages from SPOKE’s Executive Director L’Merchie Frazier and Founder/ Artistic Director Michael Dowling. SPOKE Board member Donna Brown and her husband Chris Meyer then made a substantial, gratefully received contribution to SPOKE.

SPOKE’s Founder/Art Director Michael Dowling with Suzanne Bump and Kathleen Bitetti.

REGULAR

4.18%

DEPOSIT FUTURE YOU IS SO PROUD

Rohit Chandra, Board Chair, with Board member Letta Neely and Teacher Amanda Shea.

SPOKE’s Executive Director L’Merchie Frazier and Consultant Liz Page.

Richie Dinsmore (Operations) and Susan Krause (Finance).

Happy Easter to All

On Friday afternoon, March 31, Ms. Faith Smith’s  6Th Graders lead the students, families, faculty and staff, at South Boston Catholic Academy, in praying the Stations of the Cross at St. Brigid Church.  They all did an amazing job with their drawings depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross, reading the descriptions of what each of the Stations of the Cross represents and leading us all in prayer:  “We adore You, O Christ, and Bless You.  Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world”.  Our Music Teacher, Mr. Carlo Bunyi, provided wonderful music as we reflected on each of the Stations of the Cross.  The Stations of the Cross refer to a series of depictions of Christ’s journey. They represent 14 key moments in the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus Christ. Stations of the Cross, or the Way of the Cross, have been celebrated by Roman Catholic believers for centuries, typically right before Easter.

We wish Everyone a Blessed and Happy Easter, from All of us at SBCA!

City of Boston Credit Union Hosting Children’s Book Drive to Honor Marathon Bombings

Book Donations Accepted at any City of Boston Credit Union Branch

The City of Boston Credit Union (CBCU) is hosting a children’s book drive throughout April in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings and in the spirit of One Boston Day, which will be held on Saturday, April 15.

One Boston Day recognizes the resiliency, generosity, and strength demonstrated by the people of Boston and those around the world in response to the tragedy of April 15, 2013. To demonstrate the generosity of our great city, CBCU is asking for new and gently used children’s book donations to be dropped off at any of its branch locations throughout the month.

At the end of April, CBCU will bring all book donations to the Boston Public Library to support the library’s mission of reading, literacy, and continued education for all. For every 15 book donations received, with “15” recognizing April 15, CBCU will purchase an additional book to donate to a local youth running group. Our selected book for donation, “Girl Running,” tells the story of Bobbi Gibb, a Massachusetts native who was the first woman to run and finish the Boston Marathon. The book honors the history of the Boston Marathon and the recent Women’s History Month.  Please join the City of Boston Credit Union as we come together with our communities for acts of kindness in recognition of our city’s spirit of care for one another.

Since 1915, the City of Boston Credit Union has provided its members with personal, convenient and value-priced financial services that support them through all of life’s milestones. Big enough to serve all your needs, and small enough to know what they are, the City of Boston Credit Union fosters a culture where relationships matter. As a credit

union, we are owned by and accountable to our members, who each have an equal vote in our direction, regardless of the size of their accounts. We believe we have a responsibility to support the health and wealth of our members and their communities, and over the past five years have donated over $2.4 million to hundreds of local organizations.

CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION TRUST CITATION