Valentine’s promises restated

“I’ve loved the same woman for 50 years,” said Elmo Sollitto.

Similar sentiments were expressed throughout the day at the Coral House in Baldwin on Feb. 11 as more than 500 couples turned out for Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano’s biannual wedding vow renewal ceremony.

Sollitto, of Baldwin, was speaking of his sweetheart of a half-century, his wife, Johanna. But Sollitto wasn’t the only man to acknowledge a longtime love.

Take Matt Cavanagh, will be married 50 years in August. Asked why his marriage has lasted so long, Cavanagh, of Merrick, gave all due credit to his wife, Joan. “I think it’s Joan bending over backwards for me,” he said. “We just hit it off.”

For her part, Joan Cavanagh said the secret was “giving each other space and treating each other with respect and kindness.

Of course, some attendees couldn’t resist a little wedding-vow humor. Asked for the secret to his 65-year marriage to Ann McGowan, Richard McGowan of West Hempstead said, “If we gave it away, it wouldn’t be a secret.”

Attendance at the event went up by 200 since the last vow-renewal in November, according to aides to Mangano. The band Our Generation provided music and the menu included pasta, salad and cake.

Mangano, who attended the event with his wife, Linda, hosted a special couple, his parents, Rachel and John Mangano of Bethpage. Mangano, who clearly loved all the love in the room, opened the ceremony with a joke: “Many have told me that marriage is like a deck of cards,” he said. “At the beginning, all you need is a heart and a diamond. After many years, all you want is a spade or a club.”

Then he asked the couples to rise and face each other. He addressed the men, saying, “Your response will be ‘I do.’” This was greeted with much laughter by the audience.

Then he began the vows: “Will you continue to take this woman as your wife?” The men responded accordingly.

Mangano then he spoke to the women: “To our beautiful brides, some of whom are wearing the outfits they wore the night after their wedding.” (Again, much laughter resounded.) Next, he asked the wives the same question, and they responded. 

He asked the couples to remove their rings, if possible; if not, then to just hold the ring finger. The vow: “With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment.”

Mangano concluded by telling the audience, “Today you’ve renewed the promise you’ve made. You may kiss your brides.” He ended by wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.