Hall of Fame ice hockey coach for Barnstable celebrates a big birthday

OSTERVILLE — Living a long, quiet, productive, hardworking life might not bring fortune and fame, but it can bring rewards far greater, such as lasting friendship, admiration and respect.

That describes the life of Peter Melchiono.

Melchiono celebrated his 90th birthday on Feb. 11, and the Osterville Veterans Association hosted a gathering the day before to recognize one of its longest standing members.

"I'm glad I made it. That's the number one thing," Melchiono said Tuesday, referring to his age. "It gets kind of lonesome. I have to find things to do. My wife died three years ago, so I'm by myself for the most part."

Friends were there for the party, said Melchiono.

"They said 'hello' and 'congratulations.' Not too many people knew about it."

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In 22 years, as head hockey coach at Barnstable High School, Pete Melchiono compiled an impressive record.

Melchiono is something of a legend in Barnstable as, perhaps, the high school’s greatest ever ice hockey coach.

In his 22 years as the then-Red Raiders head coach, he compiled a 275-131-28 record for an impressive .667 winning percentage.

In addition, his teams won eight league titles and two Massachusetts state championships, a Division 2 title in 1979-80 and a Division 1 title in 1990-1991.

But more than that Melchiono is a friend, a teacher and a mentor to many people, young and old, in Osterville, where he lives, and in the town of Barnstable, in general, said Andrew Colella, a member of the Osterville Veterans Association Board of Directors.

Melchiono has been a member of the Veterans Association for more than 30 years, said Colella. He has a designated stool at The Fox Hole, the bar in the basement of the association’s building.

“He is the oldest living member that goes to the club every day and is still active,” Colella said.

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Melchiono served in the Army and was also a social studies teacher at Barnstable High School.

After graduating from Malden Catholic High School in 1950, Melchiono served in the Army from 1953-1955.

He then went to Merrimack College, where he played hockey, graduating in 1960.

He served as assistant hockey coach at Merrimack from 1960 -1963, and again from 1968 -1972, meanwhile earning a master’s degree in political science from Boston College in 1966.

In between those years he managed to establish and coach the hockey program at Chelmsford High School.

In 1972, he came to Barnstable, and in addition to coaching he taught social studies and has been a valuable member of the community ever since.

So, a 90th birthday party was well deserved.

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Melchiono's birthday gathering accommodated the veteran's daily routine.

About 20 people attended, Colella said.

"Probably one of our busiest days in a while," he said.

In keeping with Melchiono’s quiet and modest lifestyle, the “gathering," as opposed to a party, was planned as a simple affair. No balloons, for example.

“We make sure all of our older veterans are taken care of,” Colella said.

In fact, the gathering on Feb. 10, rather than on his actual birthday, was to accommodate Melchiono’s daily routine. Every day from 4 p.m. to about 5 p.m., except Saturdays, he visits the Fox Hole, has two 10-once glasses of Bud Light draughts and talks, or not, to other members and friends. On Saturdays, Melchiono goes to church and doesn't arrive at the bar until later.

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State Rep. Kip Diggs said Melchiono has been a mentor to him.

State Rep. Kip Diggs, D-Barnstable, says Melchiono has been a mentor to him almost his whole life.

As Digg’s hockey coach and teacher Melchiono taught him how to play the right way and how to live the right way.

“I wouldn’t be what I am today without Coach,” Diggs said. “He taught me how to keep the lines of communication open and to be the best person I can be, and as state representative that’s what I try to do.”

Always, Diggs said, he can feel Coach watching him and, just like when he was one of his players, he still wants to make Coach proud.

Colella, who at 51 is one of the younger members in the association, said he feels very fortunate to have become Melchiono’s friend. During the COVID-19 restrictions he and a few other members would shoot pool together and when the weather permits he and Melchiono take walks together around Osterville.

“He’s always in good spirits," Colella said. "If I’m having a bad day or something I walk into the club and see Pete, and whatever I was feeling bad about doesn’t seem so important. He’s as happy as a clam. That’s the way he interacts with everybody.”

Dick Hughes, another member of the association, has known Melchiono for about 21 years and worked with him as a house painter for about 10 years. That partnership continued until Hughes was 75 and Melchiono was 79.

“He never said a bad word about anyone,” said Hughes.

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A typical day for Melchiono is to keep busy.

Melchiono works at Butler’s Sporting Goods doing deliveries, five and sometimes six days a week, in the mornings. He is a regular at the Osterville Free Library where he reads the paper every day and greets the librarian, who is also his neighbor, Cindy Cotton.

And he is even a special friend to animals.

Colella said when Melchiono comes to The Fox Hole he brings dog biscuits for one of the members’ service dogs.

“Two when he first gets there and one before he leaves,” said Colella.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Barnstable High ice hockey coach Peter Melchiono celebrates birthday