Elaine Hall, at 88 years old, married her childhood crush, Roland Passaro, after reconnecting and falling in love with him. They first met in junior high school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and attended the same school. Hall, who was a cheerleader, found Passaro, a star athlete, to be very handsome and popular. They socialized at parties and dances but never dated. After high school, Hall married someone else at 18 before getting divorced in 1975, while Passaro went to college and played professional baseball before his career was cut short due to a spinal injury. He married another woman and had three sons. They reconnected at their 50th high school reunion in 2003 and began a romantic relationship.
After spending almost two decades together, Hall and Passaro decided to get married. The couple exchanged vows in a ceremony held at the gated community where they live, with both of their families playing significant roles. Passaro’s son, an ordained minister, officiated the wedding, while Hall’s daughters walked her down the aisle. The couple’s great-granddaughters served as flower girls. Both emphasize that one can fall in love at any age and that they are proof of that. They are enjoying their newlywed status as they approach 90 years old, still feeling the same love and excitement they did when they were teenagers.
In order to stay healthy in their late 80s, Hall and Passaro prioritize physical activity by golfing at least twice a week, walking as much as they can, and doing daily exercises like push-ups and sit-ups. They also keep their brains sharp by reading to each other and doing puzzles together. Both credit good genes for their longevity, with Passaro’s parents and Hall’s father all living into their 90s. Despite both being surprised by the power of love at their age, they emphasize the importance of keeping active and engaged in order to live a fulfilling life in their later years.
Upon reconnecting at their high school reunion in 2003, Hall and Passaro quickly rekindled their chemistry that had been present since their teenage years. They began talking on the phone regularly and emailing daily, eventually leading to Hall moving to Miami to be with Passaro. They enjoyed a loving and committed relationship for almost two decades before finally tying the knot. Both reflect on their relationship and marriage as unexpected but incredibly fulfilling, highlighting the joy and passion that love can bring at any stage of life.
Hall admits that she always had a special place in her heart for Passaro, wondering about his happiness and life over the years they were apart. After reconnecting and falling in love, she was able to fulfill her desire for a traditional wedding that she never got to experience in her youth. Despite her initial hesitation about wearing a veil at 88 years old, her daughters encouraged her to embrace her bridal look on her wedding day, which made Passaro praise her beauty as she walked down the aisle. They both believe that love knows no age limit and that it is never too late to find happiness with the one you love. Their story serves as a heartwarming example of love’s enduring power.
