Martin Pino was a lifelong resident of East Boston and spent his short life giving as much back to the community as possible. Marty firmly believed in the future of the youth of East Boston and spent his time doing whatever he could to push them down a path to a brighter future. Marty took pride in the fact that he was a “do-er”, Whenever he heard someone say “somebody needs to do something about this” he tried to be the person to do it and be a helpful and positive force in his community. 

Born in 1952, he began his community involvement with the East Boston Social Centers in the 1970s. He was a group leader and a program director over the course of many years at the Social Centers year round, and especially at his home away from home East Boston Camps. Marty to this day is remembered most fondly by a campfire with a guitar in hand at the Camps, where so many city kids got their first experience of a positive space outside their own community. Marty met his wife Coleen at the social centers where she also worked serving the community, furthering his lifelong connection to the city and it’s community service organizations.

Marty found his favorite place away from the camps when working with his two friends John Forbes and Michael Gaeta to run the East Boston Youth Basketball League. Over the years it became clear that Johnny and Mike knew the game of basketball a lot better than Marty, but Marty had that something special that the kids connected with, and when Marty got the players attention with a song or a trick play, Johnny and Mike kept them there to learn the fundamentals of sports, teamwork, and integrity as a person in the East Boston community. 

Between his decades working the East Boston Social Centers, and assisting Johnny and Mike running the EBYBL, Marty formed a connection with hundreds and hundreds of kids in East Boston who are now adults in the world telling stories to Marty’s wife and family about the man from Jeffries Point who changed everything for them. Marty may have only had a short 50 years here, but he used every moment to make sure it was a force of positive change for all who met him.

Michael and John have run the East Boston Youth Basketball League for 50 years. They started the program at the East Boston Social Center in the fall of 1975. League organizers were Robert Lewis Jr., and the late Marty Pino and Peter Forbes.

Marty was a great man! He worked at the Social Center and East Boston Camps for many years beginning in the late 1960’s. In the summer he was the heart and soul of the Camp. In the winter he ran multiple programs at the Center. He was a tremendous role model for the youth of East Boston during those years. He passed away too soon in 2003 but his legend still lives on. Marty’s wife Coleen and her sons Anthony and Marty are part of his legacy as they have all worked at EBSC in various capacities and volunteered countless hours in the Community of East Boston.

John and Michael have also been affiliated with the Social Center since the late 60’s working and or volunteering at the Camps and many of the winter programs offered at the Center. Many of their family members also worked there.

John’s parents Jack and Terry ran the EBSC for many years and all eight of his brothers and sisters also worked there at one time. His wife Cindy and five children, Johnny, Anthony, Julie, Michael, and Katie all spent many years working at Camp as well as volunteering in the EBYBL Program.

Michael’s mother Mary was a fixture for many years at the Jeffries Point Neighborhood Center, his Mother-in-law Sue Palma and sister-in laws Debi White and Gloria Devine were and are all beloved members of the Social Center Family! Michael’s wife is Helen who also spent many years working at Camp and the Social Center. His three children Michael, Stephanie, and Nicholas have been volunteers and big supporters of the EBYBL program.

Marty, Michael, John, and their families were lucky to have the Social Center. The lessons they learned working there helped them throughout their lives