Frank Mastrocola, Businessman, Family Man, Son of Everett, at 92
The death of Frank Mastrocola at 92 a few days ago is a tremendous loss to all of us who knew him, who know his family, and who respect the Mastrocolas because, quite frankly, they are classy, successful, generous, educated Everett people who have always given back to the city where they got their start.
To Frank Mastrocola, who grew up here, who had his business here, who was well known and respected throughout the community when it was a far different place than it is today, Everett was everything to him.
The friendships he made which lasted a lifetime, the business and social relationships he built, the generosity and gift of loyalty and friendship he shared with his three children whom he adored, are what made life worth living for him.
He was part of the Greatest Generation, the men and women who fought in the armed forces during World War 2 for freedom during the greatest struggle in world history.
He served in the US Marines and was a combat veteran of the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the war. Thousands were wounded and almost 2,000 brave men died in that engagement, one of the bloodiest and most savage of the war.
Those of us who knew him and were around him never heard him say a word about Okinawa – such was the strength, courage and humility of men like Frank Mastrocola.
He was the president and owner of Master Fuel for 30 years, Then he owned Travel Master for 10 years before retiring.
His loss is a great one for the city for there are no Frank Mastrocolas coming up the ladder in Everett today.
To Frank, Jr. and his wife Judy, who we know so well, we offer our condolences on their loss.
And to the entire Mastrocola Family as well, we offer sincere expressions of sympathy.
Frank Mastrocola was a quite a guy.
Gambling Addiction Will Swell When Casino Opens in 2019
A four year study financed by the State Gambling Commission just released reveals that gambling addiction will grow dramatically when the Wynn Boston Harbor casino and hotel opens in June 2019.
This isn’t a rumor, exaggeration or fake news.
It is a harsh reality.
With everything good the casino has to offer Everett comes gambling addiction, which is a curse as bad as any addiction but worse than many addictions because of its volatility and its ability to destroy individuals and families.
Dealing with gambling addiction will take a first class, well funded and staffed effort.
It will also take reading complex reports such as that just issued with an open mind as well.
City Hall must take heed of this report.
Martin Luther King
Everett is a city of immigrants. Always has been always will be.
It is a mixed race city today where people from 100 nations live in peace and get along for better or worse.
The late , great Martin Luther King, was a giant of a man during a tumultuous era when the rights of Black people became an issue that could no longer be contained or ignored.
The 1960’s and 1970’s brought great gains to the nation’s Black people.
But their fight for equality didn’t end there or with King’s untimely death at the hands of a white supremacist who gunned him down in Memphis in 1968.
Being Black in America today is a far better place to be than the America during the days of Martin Luther King.
But then again, if you are Black, you know there is a long way to go.
Why?
Because so many people tend to measure you by the color of your skin or the religion you practice.
It is a part of human nature that cannot be erased and which holds us back from being all one in this nation.
Perhaps we can use this Martin Luther King Day which has passed to promise ourselves that we will all do more to unify our nation, to see everyone for who they are, rather than to measure people by the color of their skin.
Racism is real.
Racism is destructive.
We must all try to wipe it out.
Do that, and this nation shines more brightly.