Guy Vincent Mainella

Scarborough - Guy Vincent Mainella, 85, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family on June 10, 2024 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was remarkably positive and grateful for his life despite the daily challenges brought on by this disease. Guy was the devoted and beloved husband, for nearly 65 years, of Carole (Jazwiecki) and an engaged and loving father, grandfather, brother and friend. No matter what life brought, Guy’s family always knew that they came first. In a toast at one of his children’s weddings, he said, “If you are lucky enough to have children, may they bring you as much joy as mine have brought me”. He adored and treasured his grandchildren, so much that he spent years documenting their most insightful and humorous remarks in a book for the family entitled, Wisdom from the Wee People. He was a voracious reader of topics ranging from physics to history, world news to religion and a passionate tinkerer and inventor. Guy was ahead of his time and designed, manufactured and marketed solar panels to heat domestic hot water in the 1980’s. He customized and installed VHS video vending machines before the Blockbuster chain dominated that space and later in life he invented and manufactured a tool that is used to remove rings in emergencies. This final endeavor kept him busy until the months preceding his death. He was also privileged to spend a number of years as the director of Souhegan Valley Resources, which provided meaningful work opportunities for developmentally challenged individuals in Southern New Hampshire. Guy’s true claim to fame came through his career in radio, which began as a cub reporter at WOKY in Milwaukee, WI at the age of 18. He moved on to work in Chicago and eventually landed in Boston where he started as the news director at WBZ. Soon thereafter Guy became the host of the groundbreaking and popular nightly sports talk show Calling All Sports on WBZ radio. The show first aired on July 15, 1969 and had a strong 10 year run dominating the ratings. Its number, 254-5678, is still permanently ingrained in the memories of many listeners. He was knowledgeable on all things sports and known for lengthy and lively conversations with listeners. It was a thought-provoking and often uproariously funny two hours each weeknight. During his career he interviewed many sports luminaries from Muhammad Ali to Willie Mays, Bart Starr to Bobby Orr, and Billie Jean King to Bill Russell. Guy worked to create a special recording about the art of hitting a baseball with the great Ted Williams and fondly remembered their time together in Mr. William’s Florida home. He spent a few seasons doing the “color” on WBZ-TV broadcasts of Celtics away games and also with Johnny Most for Celtics playoff games on the radio. Guy was always interested in the people around him and curious about their lives and thoughts. He was an accomplished practical joker and a tease. He enjoyed low stakes poker with friends, loved music from Chuck Berry to Luciano Pavarotti, and had a special place in his heart for a house on a small pond in Rangeley, Maine. Guy was predeceased by his parents, Ted and Ione; sisters, Erna and Ann; and brother, Hugh. Guy will be dearly missed and is survived by his loving wife, Carole; children, Scott (Joanne) Mainella, Lisa Mainella (Hans Gundersen), Lauri (Marc) Dugas; and five grandchildren, Sarah, Lars, Tim, Sophie and Eli. He is also survived by his sister, Carmeen; brother, Ted (Mary); and many nieces and nephews. Thank you to Guy’s dedicated caregivers, wonderful hospice staff and nurse, Stacy, his doctors and Aging Kingdom. You brightened his days! A private celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks. To view Guy’s full obituary and tribute from The Boston Globe, please go to www.ConroyTullyWalker.com Meaningful to Guy’s memory, donations may be made to Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, northernlighthealth.org, and Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org.