Kids have a BALL, courtesy of Sons of Italy

About a dozen years ago, longtime teacher and coach Mario “The Bocce Guy” Pagnoni started free summer bocce lessons for Methuen kids – a popular program often held outside on Nevins Library’s lawn.

Since Mario’s 2018 death, his widow Carmela has continued partnering with Methuen Public Schools to introduce the game to younger generations. Last month, 60-plus kindergartners to 8th-graders participating in the Rangers Club summer program headed to the Methuen Sons of Italy on Merrimack Street for a morning on the courts – which just weeks ago hosted players from up down the East Coast.

“I can’t give it up – I love it!” Carmela told MethuenLife, of her nearly 10 years introducing the game to children. “It’s keeping Mario’s name alive.”

“The kids loved it in every way!” Carmela recalls of those early days. “They’d jump up and down. They’d get all excited when they threw the big ball against the small pallino ball. … Those were happy days.”

Carmela is proud to continue the tradition of teaching this beloved game to the next generation.
“It’s wonderful when kids who learned the game from us come back,” Carmela says. “They say (to the younger ones), ‘We’ll teach you.’ It’s great to see.”

Eight Sons of Italy volunteers eagerly helped Carmela, who plucked a boy and girl from the crowd to demonstrate the game. She tossed the small pallino ball and the kids rolled their bocce balls, trying to get as close as possible to it (accuracy is more important than speed).

Eliana Vargas has been to the courts previously with the Rangers Club. She threw several balls, with each one coming inches from the pallino.

Longtime SOI members lined the court and were taken aback by her rolls.

Volunteer Bob Lamirande, who turns 91 this month, was wowed, saying, “Unbelievable! Sign her up! She’s great …”

Eliana says in addition to learning the game at the Sons, “My neighbors have bocce, so I play with them. I think I’m pretty good!”

Students and school staffers separated into four-person teams and took their spots on the courts. SOI members provided tips and encouragement, and soon the courts were buzzing with cheers, high-fives and smiles.

Ava Mwae flashed a beautiful smile, saying, “It’s a nice game. I’m doing good!”
“It’s a little hard,” admitted Logan Estrella. “I’m still practicing. I hit the pallino ball. I hope that’s good!”

Bradley Boudrow was thrilled with his first-time performance: “Oh my gosh! I’m 6 and I scored 6 points.”

Then his eyes turned to all of the hardware lining a large wall: “I really want a trophy!”

“This keeps Mario’s name alive and the game of bocce, which he loved so much. It gives my heart joy.” Carmela said, adding that her helpers are always eager to take part. “It’s very important to the volunteers to be here too. That’s another reason it’s so special.”

Mario Pagnoni, who died in 2018, authored the book, “The Joy of Bocce.” He was inducted into the United States Bocce Federation Wall of Fame in September 2017. A Methuen Public School teacher for 32 years, he was active in youth and school sports as a coach and umpire/referee.

“When I go home tonight, I’ll look at (Mario’s) picture and say, ‘We did it again! You were here with us,’ ” Carmela smiled.