So you’re a diehard Sox fan are you?
102-year old Coventry woman turned Fenway celebrity has you beat
COVENTRY — There was tradition to uphold, the kind that involves a grandmother and her grandson, and taking in a World
Series game at Fenway Park.
To maintain a streak of perfect attendance that started in 2004 and added subsequent chapters of October baseball glory in 2007 and
2013, the grandson dangled a carrot before his grandma.
At the time, Mary Latowski – that’s 102-years-young
Mary Latowski – was in Kent County Hospital.
A life-long resident, Latowski was a stroke patient after experiencing a complete lack of sensation on one side of her body. From her hospital bed, she watched her beloved Boston Red Sox vanquish their two American League playoff opponents, the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.
Mark Masiello is the grandson who told grandmother Mary that if she proved diligent and disciplined in her rehab, then be prepared to once again
surround yourself with 38,000 Red Sox diehards with Major League Baseball’s grand prize at stake.
“Grandma, if the Red Sox win [the American League pennant], I’m taking you. I’ve taken you to the last three World Series,” was the motivational pep talk that Mark presented to Mary, the exchange shared by Linda Masiello, daughter of Mary and mother of Mark. “He said to her, ‘You’ve got to work hard and get better.’”
What Mary didn’t know was that Mark’s best-laid plans would feature four generations of the same family attending a World Series contest at Fenway. Joining Mary and Mark would be Linda Masiello and her husband Harry, Linda and Harry’s daughter Heather Mayo, and Mark’s 22-year-old daughter Cecilia Masiello who planned to fly in from Hawaii just so she could say she took in a World Series game with her great grandmother.
On the same day the curtain was raised on the 2018 Fall Classic, Mary Latowski was released from the hospital. The very next night, she was part of a close-knit, six-person entourage which braved the autumn chill for Game 2 of a last-twoteams-left-standing series pitting the Sox against the Los Angeles Dodg-
ers. A promise by grandson Mark was kept, yet that proved to be only the beginning of a memorable night for a still-sharp-as-a-tack woman who found herself in the national spotlight and loving every minute of it.
Latowski’s timeless and ageless story was captured by Fox’s television cameras and shared during the seventh inning of Game 2. In no time, Latowski became in-demand; everyone sitting near her in Section 39 wanted to pose with her for pictures. Once the piece about her mom aired, Linda Masiello’s phone blew up. Relatives from Chicago, Florida, and California fired off text messages. Every single one of them began the same way, ‘Oh my God. We just saw you guys on TV!”
“I guess so. I was the oldest fan there!” Mary Latowski said with a slight laugh when asked about her celebrity status that emerged as quickly as a home run landing in the Green Monster seats. “I never expected this, but I’ve been a Red Sox fan for almost 90 years.”
Mary was very eager to emphasize said devotion while resting comfortably in her daughter and son-inlaw’s living that overlooks Johnson’s Pond. Her stories and anecdotes of Red Sox fandom grew when she proudly informed a reporter that bedtime didn’t come until the dramatic conclusion of the 18-inning contest the Red Sox and Dodgers waged Fri-
day night/early Saturday morning.
“I stayed up until four o’clock in the morning!” said a beaming Mary, who if you were meeting her for the first time, you probably wouldn’t think she was a day over 70 years old.
Mary Latowski grew up in Coventry, born and raised on Anthony Street. Her family became synonymous with the former Anthony Mill where luxury-style lofts sit today. During her teenage years, Mary had two jobs. Bring dinner to her father and brothers at Anthony Mill and inform them of the score of that afternoon’s Red Sox game.
“I was 12 or 13 when I started listening to Red Sox games on the radio,” said Latowski.
Once David Ortiz retired – “I love Big Papi. You can’t help but love him. He’s always got a smile on his face,” said Latowski – she developed a new Red Sox love in Mookie Betts. Also in her possession is a baseball autographed by Jackie Bradley Jr. The four World Series games she’s attended rank up there, yet nothing compares to an April 2007 contest at Fenway Park that saw the Red Sox victimize the Yankees with four straight home runs. Latowski was at that game along with her grandson Mark.
“I’ll never forget that until my dying day. That was my biggest thrill. One, two, three, four. And of all teams, the Yankees!” said Latowski.
There was a time when the Red Sox made it a frequent habit of breaking Latowski’s heart. Through all the disappointment, she never lost faith. While recoporating in Kent County Hospital, a rehab attendee put two and two together regarding Latowski’s deep connection with the BoSox.
“I don’t know any woman who loves the Red Sox like I do. I always was so disappointed when they lost a game. My (late husband Mike) would tell me, ‘Why are so upset? It’s only a game.’ I still think of what he said to this very day,” Latowski said. “One of the people at the rehab center said, ‘Maybe it’s because you were born the same year they won their first World Series. I said, ‘Could be.’”
The year 1916 was a very good year for Boston baseball, as have been the three years in this current century that’s seen the Red Sox emerge as the last major-league team standing. Latowski has witnessed plenty of Red Sox teams leave a mark, yet she’s adamant about where the current Boston edition ranks in her own personal hierarchy.
“This is the best team the Red Sox have ever had in my era,” she said.
Better than the curse-breaking 2004 group?
“Yup. This one is the best,” said Latowski, not a shred of hesitation in her voice.
Latowski’s story was locally
known even before the Fox cameras caught up with her while the family ate dinner at a Copley Place restaurant prior to Game 2 last Wednesday. WPRI-12 had profiled her, then passed along her information to a national network just in case Fox was in the market for a feel-good feature. Turns out Mary’s age, her status as a life-long Sox admirer, and the fact she would be attending her fourth World Series game at Fenway Park over the past 14 years was a story that had definite national appeal.
Once Latowski fulfilled her Fox duties, the family hustled over to Fenway Park. Latowski is able to walk – no doubt, the result of paying close attention at physical therapy – but it was decided that it would be best to use a wheelchair in order to get her around. The presence of Fox’s cameras led to plenty of curious people flocking to where Latowski was sitting. The Red Sox caught wind, sending over two bags of baseball-themed goodies that included a 2018 World Series fleece blanket that Latowski held tightly during the latter innings of Game 2.
“It was kind of cold,” said Latowski.
“I’m their lucky charm,” said 102-year-old Mary Latowski, referring to the Red Sox, “and it was a nice family outing.”