Every community faces loss but fishing communities risk even greater loss because of the dangerous nature of the work of commercial fishermen.
Gloucester, the nation’s oldest fishing port, knows that loss too well. The cenotaphs of the Fishermen’s Memorial on Gloucester Harbor bears witness to that loss over centuries.
When St. Peter’s Fiesta had its official opening Friday night, there was an absence on the altar as well as in the community due to several notable losses of a public nature over this past year.
Among the losses are the crew of the Gloucester fishing vessel Lily Jean, Capt. Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, Paul Beal and his son Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien and NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt; the late state Rep. Ann Margaret Ferrante, who would have been 56 this past Friday; and Christopher Dailey, an 18-year-old Gloucester High graduate and co-captain of the hockey team, who died after a wrong-way driver hit the car in which he and others were traveling on the A. Piatt Andrew bridge.
State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester native, felt the losses deeply, having been a close friend of Ferrante, the daughter of a Sicilian fisherman, and of Sanfilippo.
“This has been a difficult year for our community,” Tarr said in an interview before opening night. “But one of the great strengths of our community is reflected in Fiesta and that is our faith in both religion and each other. Ann-Margaret, the crew of the Lily Jean, Chris Dailey and Father Gariboldi were folks that held their faith deeply and that faith will sustain us.”
Reflecting on these sentiments Wednesday, Tarr said he would try to capture this essence talking from the altar.
“This is exactly why we have Fiesta — to remind us of the importance of our faith because it has unlimited power to get us through difficult times,” he said. “On both Friday and Sunday, there will be something missing, an empty seat, and that will be Ann-Margaret yelling out ‘Viva San Pietro’ but there too will be joy in celebrating the love and faith and community that is Fiesta. And I know because of faith that Ann-Margaret will be present in a real way.”
Frances Ferrante, the late lawmaker’s mother, also of Sicilian heritage, recalled how Fiesta was always a big deal for her daughter since she was a child.
“She loved it all,” Ferrante said. “St. Peter is the patron saint of fishermen, and now there is another advocate up there with Ann-Margaret.”
A note of fun during challenging times
During Ferrante’s funeral last December, the Rev. James Achadinha, known as Father Jim, shared a Fiesta story that sparked some smiles as he reminisced about the friendly competition between Ferrante and Tarr when making remarks at past Friday night formal opening ceremonies.
Ferrante, who spoke fluent Sicilian, would share her remarks in both languages. And not to be outdone, Tarr studies each year in preparation for the opening so he too can speak in both languages. But he could never outdo the fluent Ferrante. This playful interchange began when she was first elected in 2008, as the state representatives at the Statehouse were special guests on the St. Peter’s Fiesta altar.
Achadinha talked about how he jokes with Tarr, always asking ‘Are you ready for Friday night?,’ knowing he would be outdone by Ferrante who usually would speak first.
“Bruce tries his best to share words in Sicilian with those gathered but he could never beat Ann-Margaret who was always able to speak beautifully,” Achadinha said. “In that one moment, Ann-Margaret always shined, the daughter of a fisherman and celebrating something so special to the Sicilians and Italians. That was her strength, always being with people, and always there on that celebratory night.”
Tarr recalled how Ferrante’s spontaneity in delivering remarks in both languages would challenge him to respond.
“I’d be left in a situation trying to respond, and sometimes I would turn to a (Sicilian) friend at the altar for some last-minute advice,” he said.
Tarr talked about the study he needed to undertake before this Friday’s Fiesta opening, giving a shout-out to his long-time tutor, Corrado Buccheri of Gloucester Auto Body.
“We have been close friends for many years, and there’s a ritual to this. I write my remarks in English and then I go to class with ‘Professor Corrado’ and he translates and teaches me the correct pronunciations and spend hours in preparation,” Tarr said. “My remarks are generally spontaneous and never written, but to do it properly for Fiesta, I need coaching. And then Friday night on the altar, Ann-Margaret gets up and says something spontaneous and I have to create a response with only my notes — that are now written in larger type and larger spacing as years ago by.”
Sometimes Tarr’s language tutorials would extend to Lucido’s Barber Shop where he often goes before Fiesta for a hair cut.
“No matter what the language, we are very appreciative of the Sicilian heritage that is reflected at Fiesta and we tried to highlight that in our own ways in both languages,” Tarr said. “And it was usual for Ann-Margaret to make a little fun of me in her remarks but always in the spirit of friendship and community, and it all reflects the celebratory nature of the Fiesta.”
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.