88-year-old fulfills dream of wearing a wedding dress as she marries her first crush after 74 years

There is no age limit for the most precious things in life, like loving, living, and learning. Elaine Hall and Roland Passaro, both 88, embraced this belief and tied the knot recently, reports TODAY. The couple, who have had rich life experiences, were once young students at the same high school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1950. Though life set them apart, years later, fate brought them together, evoking the love story of a lifetime. “When I saw her in 9th grade, I thought she was very beautiful and exciting, I thought she was, I guess in today’s parlance, quite hot,” Passaro adorably said.

Passaro was the top athlete on the baseball team, while Hall was a beautiful cheerleader, fitting the mold of a typical high school romance. Despite their mutual crush, they remained just friends and never dated. Hall married her first husband at the raw age of 18 when she wore a blue sundress. She never got the chance to wear a wedding dress, as her wedding was rushed. She thought her dream of wearing white would remain a fantasy, but it became a spectacular reality when the duo married at Palm Coast. Hall married her first husband at the young age of 18, wearing a blue sundress.

Life went on for the duo, as they had kids and whatnot. After graduating from high school, Passaro continued his career as an athlete till an injury caused him to discontinue his profession, per The Washington Post. In 1975, Hall ended her marriage with her then-husband and remained single. As for Passaro, he lost one of his three sons in a tragedy shortly after his marriage. Hall mentioned that she would often think about Passaro. “I always had a special place in my heart for Roland all through those years. I often wondered how he was, if he was happy, had a good life,” she said. The two remained separated until they met again at their high school’s 50th reunion. 

“There was an attraction between us that night. When I went over to say goodbye, he leaned over and kissed me,” Hall recalled. What then followed was months of mailing letters and exchanging phone calls till Hall eventually moved in with Passaro. James, Passaro’s son, loves the duo together. “They are so adorable at the golf course. He hits the ball, and she tells him which way it went because he can’t see very well,” he exclaimed. The duo lived together for 20 years before Passaro popped the unusually heartwarming idea that they marry. Hall gladly obliged and there she was, fulfilling her dream of wearing a white dress.

“I kept saying at 88, maybe I shouldn’t wear a veil. My daughters said, ‘Mom, quit trying not to look like a bride. You’re a bride. We’re going to do the whole thing,’” Hall pointed out. Their children and grandchildren ensured the celebration was warm and beautiful. “When I got up there to him, he said to me, ‘You look so beautiful,’” she added. Hall and Passaro’s children walked them down the aisle while the great-grandchildren became the flower girls. “I feel the same way as I did at 15. I still get butterflies. I just love him so much,” Hall exclaimed. There’s nothing but good wishes for the couple embarking on a new journey with a trunk of experiences!