Rose and Joe first met on October 30th, 1965.  Rose was 16 and a junior in High School. Joe was 18 and a freshman in College.   Rose was having a “house-warming” party to celebrate her moving into the upstairs rooms in her home in Colonia.  Her uncle had moved back to Long Island.   Rose invited Joe’s cousin Tony who was her friend but Tony did not drive so he asked his cousin Joe to drive him and stay at the party.   That’s how and where Joe and Rose met – at Rose’s house in Colonia.

Rose’s mother was upset that a “college” kid was coming to the party but was surprised when he turned out to be a skinny quiet Joe.

They started dating shortly after that.  Here is the first photo taken at a New Years Eve party later that year.  The photo was taken by Tony Ragucci….