Longtime announcer humbled by honor
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Monte Pistoresi of Pistoresi Ambulance announces at last year’s Old Timers Day parade.
Monte Pistoresi has been announcing the Old Timers’ Day Parade for many years.
Two years ago, he began to transition out of the role while training Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno the ins and outs of parade announcing.
However, in early September, Pistoresi received a phone call from Moreno to tell him he had been selected as the 2022 Old Timers’ Day Grand Marshal. At first, Pistoresi said he really didn’t want to do it.
“I don’t like to go out in front of things like that.,” he said. “
After a Labor Day weekend, Pistoresi relented and said he would accept the honor.
“I thought about it for three days, over the Labor Day weekend,” he said. “I don’t want to make the people that gave me the award feel bad. They felt that I deserved to have this award. I didn’t want to say I didn’t want to do it so I told Sally I would do it.
“I really consider it an honor. I am really looking forward to the parade.”
The Pistoresi Ambulance founder has been a part of the parade for many years, whether it was participating with his business or as an announcer. Pistoresi enjoyed the time he had being the parade announcer.
“I really enjoyed doing that every year,” he said. “Jim Bryan was the great organizer. He would organize the parade and make sure everyone had their scripts turned in. I would read from the script about the entries. It was really a fun thing to do.”
Before transferring his role to Moreno, he instructed her the fine art of parade announcing.
“I told her how to do it,” Pistoresi said. “You have to watch the timing before the judges stand. You have to be alert. When the band is going to perform, you have to make sure the entry behind them isn’t coming up too fast. I used to put a spotter out there to help me. I would signal them to hold the entry back until they stopped performing. You have to give them time to do their performance.”
Now, after announcing many grand marshals before him, Pistoresi will join the club and be announced at the parade.
“My great, great granddaughter, Gianna, will ride in the parade with me,” he said. “Nick (Salinas, Old timers’ Day Parade Coordinator) showed me the convertible we are riding in. It’s a red convertible with huge cow horns on the front of it. It will be fun to ride in.”
He credits Salinas for taking over for Bryan and keeping the parade going, especially after COVID. Salinas also joined Moreno to tell Pistoresi he was chosen as the parade’s grand marshal.
“Nick Salinas contacted me about being the grand marshal,” Pistoresi said. “It’s a lot of work to put this on. He’s getting all the entries. I don’t want to have that job.”
Pistoresi is also looking forward to the Evening Lions’ Old Timers’ Day Dinner on Friday where Bill and Carla Alessini will be honored with a coronation ceremony, before the parade Saturday morning.
“I have to pace myself at the dinner the previous night,” he said.
In the end, although hesitant at the beginning, Pistoresi is looking forward to leading Saturday’s parade through Downtown Madera.
“As it gets closer, and the more I think about it, I’m getting excited about it. I’m really looking forward to do it,” he said. “I am very humbled by the award.”
