My name is Andrew Nicholas DelCid, but most people know me as ‘Del’ in Worcester. I was born in Marlboro and grew up in Northborough, the son of a Guatemalan immigrant father and a Massachusetts-born mother. I have a brother and a sister. I have pride in saying that I’m multi-ethnic and that my parents not only made HUGE sacrifices to raise their children in a wonderful little MA town but also re-invented themselves during my middle school years in order to provide better lives for themselves and their family.
I’m a civil engineering graduate from Northeastern University. I’ve traveled to over two dozen countries. I’ve run the Boston Marathon and I’ve summited Mt. Rainier. I have been playing in bar bands for over 20 years (Shoopus, Say When, Delhill, Jugghead, Burden Brothers, and now Colt and the Coyotes). I speak really proficient Spanish. I’m a big fan of cooking at home, FC Barcelona, Seleccion Argentina (my son’s name is Leo), 311, video games, and generally I just truly love people and getting to know them as deeply as possible. I hike in the woods every day with my best friend Serra, who is a two-year-old pup!
I consider myself a really good friend and I’m always trying to be the best husband and father I can be.
I’ve lived in Worcester since my wife Jena enchanted me in 2013!
Q: Please tell us about your current career and what you love most about what you do?
I am the co-owner of a Landscape Design/Build firm here in Worcester county. My father started it after being convinced by his Argentinian best friend Roberto to be his own boss. I mowed lawns in high school and at Engineering School. When I moved home in 2004, I started talking to clients and helping with the business end of things. There was a time in my twenties when I looked around and saw a lot of my peers having success in white collar jobs. It wasn’t until a bit later that I let my ego fly away and saw the beauty in being “blue collar” and more importantly having pride in being an expert in shaping people’s experiences with their outdoor spaces, in making them use and fall in love with their yards again.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Worcester, and what is your favorite dish?
There are many, but my favorite restaurant is El Patron. The Cazares family has opened their doors to my family on many occasions, including for World Cup games, and we had our wedding after party there. My band played, my wife sang, and I think they ran out of tequila.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Today its Buenos Aires Argentina because my idol and son’s namesake Leo Messi just completed his legendary tale by winning his World Cup after 4 lost finals and five World Cup attendances. Talk about perserverance!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
I’ll let Spotify build a radio station around Neil Young, Paul Simon, or Jack White any day of the week.
Q: What is your best advice?
Focus on the step you’re taking and make it the best, most present step you can possibly make. Keep doing that. Oh, and tomorrow isn’t promised.
Q: What is one of the top three items on your Bucket List?
1. Visit Japan. 2. Visit Ireland (my mother’s maiden name is Hoey). 3. Record a song for/with my kids.
Q: What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Worcester?
Kangaroo Crossing, which I believe is near the old Elmwood Adams/Armsby Abbey space. My brother and I got one pair of soccer cleats and one pair of indoors a year, and we would get them there.
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?
I’d love to have lunch with Nicholas Lofton Hexum, lead singer of 311. He was my hero growing up and was single-minded about achieving his dreams. That he did it with his friends from high school, and his chosen family pushes him all the way to the top of the list. Plus, how dreamy is he?
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I’d love to work up to a place where I could live with my family in multiple cities or countries during the course of the year. Its on my mind right now as a goal.
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you, even your friends or family.
I want more dogs in my life and hope to start dog-walking as a side hustle in 2023.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home. If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing. **DING-DONG** “We have company, honey!”
Q: If a motion picture was made of your life, what actor/actress would you choose to play you?
Jason Biggs? I’d prefer Elijah Wood.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Worcester?
You can meet the mayor if you like. You can build a dream with friends if you like. I love that if you work hard enough here, you can make anything happen – it still feels like an accessible place that wears its working-class roots like a badge of honor and does NOT put on airs, but rather, in a charming-yet-sarcastic Yankee way, won’t let people/places/things get away with putting on airs.
Q: What is your favorite smell?
I’m a simple man, I like it when the onion and the garlic hits the pan when I’m starting a sauce or a soup.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife. She’s incredibly patient, loving, and prolific as an artist (Sea of Stars Glass, PLUG!). I’ve never met anyone like her, nor do I want to, really.
Q: Who would you like to see nominated for this project, The Faces of Worcester? Please include their email address and phone number. Also, include a brief description of why you are nominating this individual.
Garrett Morand. Garrett taught me the meaning of friendship, hospitality, non-judgment, and really good cooking when I was really young! He’s a pillar of this community here in Worcester.
