Episode 18: Mary DeGrandis - Part Two episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 21, 2026 · 46 MIN

Episode 18: Mary DeGrandis - Part Two

from My North End: The Podcast · host Alexandra Salmon

Mary DeGrandis, the Flying Angel in the Fisherman’s Feast in 1973, was possibly the first North Ender to get viral media attention when WGBH filmed a segment about her and her family leading up to and during the feast that year.  The episode re-ran on their channel regularly, and suddenly, our close-knit Boston enclave was getting national attention – with Mary, a preteen girl, at the center of it.  Decades later, WGBH dug the clip out of their archives and shared it on the Internet.  Once again, Mary was a viral star. People who have seen it often comment, “what is she up to now?”  Mary joins My North End: The Podcast to answer that question, and more.  Still a part of our community, and still possessing that star power, Mary talks all about growing up in the North End, being the fourth generation of a Madonna Del Soccorso family, her time as the Flying Angel, how all the attention from the local and national media impacted her life, coming of age in a drastically changing Boston during the 70s, coming to embrace her proud heritage, and passing it onto the next generation.  This is Part One of two very special episodes. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@MyNorthEndThePodcast/LISTEN ON: ITUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-north-end-the-podcast/id1779322840SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xP2UdC7Kyk2T98J44DVHwWatch Previous (Episode 16: Joe Blazo): https://youtu.be/IAV2zHlQFLs?si=UULsK2Ehp21KXM45 Presented By:Alileo Wines: https://alileowines.com/ A special thank you to our sponsors:Wildflower Salon & Studio: https://www.wildflowerhairstudio.com/Golden Goose Market: https://www.goldengoosemarket.com/Looks By Layza: https://www.looksbylayza.com/Styled by:Heart & SoleMakeup:Looks By LayzaHair:Wildflower Salon & StudioWatch our YouTube show: / @mynorthend-bostonFollow us on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/mynorthendTikTok: https://tiktok.com/mynorthendFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

Mary DeGrandis, the Flying Angel in the Fisherman’s Feast in 1973, was possibly the first North Ender to get viral media attention when WGBH filmed a segment about her and her family leading up to and during the feast that year. The episode re-ran on their channel regularly, and suddenly, our close-knit Boston enclave was getting national attention – with Mary, a preteen girl, at the center of it. Decades later, WGBH dug the clip out of their archives and shared it on the Internet...

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Episode 18: Mary DeGrandis - Part Two

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This episode was published on March 21, 2026.

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Mary DeGrandis, the Flying Angel in the Fisherman’s Feast in 1973, was possibly the first North Ender to get viral media attention when WGBH filmed a segment about her and her family leading up to and during the feast that year.  The episode re-ran...

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