Class Picture
Knightsville kindergarten kindergarteners celebrate 70th reunion
This special group of people has been in each other’s lives for over 70 years. They became classmates in the now closed Knightsville Elementary School on Greene Avenue. They were five years old back then; now, this year, they are all celebrating their 75th birthdays.
Dolores DiMaio Carroll was the organizer and coordinator of the event.
“All of this started by me being a realtor and seeing everyone from school around the city,” Carroll said. “As I would see some, they would ask do you see so and so, etc. I said someday I am going to get us all together. They laughed and said how are you going to do that? My answer was always just watch me. I mentioned the idea of a reunion to my friends Valerie DiBiase McIntyre and Fred Crudale.
“They were onboard and asked if they could help. Of course they were just as delighted as me,” she continued. “Valerie had the class pictures, and we three searched the students out. After a few bumps in the road, we reached everyone by phone and got this started nine years ago. We have come a long way, with emails, texts, etc. Now it is easier. When our dear Fred passed away last year we decided to keep it going for his sake. We made his wife, Ann an honorary classmate.”
They all consider each other to be part of one larger Italian family, they look out for each other, they check in their classmates.
The attendees this year were Joseph Pezza, Richard Squizzero, Robert Susi, Raymond Saccoccio, Edward Graziano, Louis Saccoccio, Dolores DiMeo Carroll, Valerie DiBiase McIntyre, Beverly Improta DeLuca, Sandra Santagata Nolette, Marjorie Palazzo Gallo, Ann Palmaccio McDermott, Diane Paone DelBonis and Bette Soscia Harrison. The reunion celebration was a dinner at Café Itri on Thursday, Sept. 21.
As a special tribute, the reunion was dedicated in honor of a special teacher; Mrs. Beulah Judge who was a first and second grade teacher. All the students considered her a second mom.
While most of the classmates remained in Cranston, and in Knightsville several moved away. Louis Saccoccia was awarded the prize for traveling the furthest from Tucson, Arizona and Raymond Saccoccio was runner up all the way from Springfield, Massachusetts.
Ward 5 Councilman Chris Paplauskas made arrangements for the classmates to all receive special, honorary citations from the City Council commemorating and honoring their reunion and long standing friendships.
“We had special, handmade cupcakes for dessert, one for each classmate, and one special with eight candles for each of the classmates we have lost. As long as I can do it, I will arrange this reunion. We are all part of each other, and we are our own family,” said Dolores.
