Thursday, October 1, 2026
East Rockaway residents Art and Helen Harding celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 17.
The couple was married in their hometown of Brooklyn, New York and honeymooned in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They moved to East Rockaway in 1960 and have lived in the same home since then.
The Harding’s joined Bethany Congregational Church on Main Street when they moved to East Rockaway and this year also celebrates their 50th year as members of the church.
Before they married, Art served in the U.S. Navy during WW II, spending most of his time in the Pacific theatre on a destroyer. Helen worked as a communications courier for Western Union in New York City, and her job included delivering messages on roller skates throughout the building.
The Harding’s raised four sons: Arthur, Glenn, Thomas and Kenneth, Three of whom now live in Texas where Art and Helen celebrated their 60th anniversary. The boys attended Rhame Avenue Elementary and East Rockaway High School. Helen was active in PTA activities and remembers that the boys had to come home for lunch from Rhame because of crowded cafeterias in the 60s.
Art and Helen have been active members of Bethany, with Art serving as deacon, lay reader and trustee. Helen sang in the choir and served in many areas of hospitality.
Both Art and Helen have been lifelong members of American Legion Post #958 on Main Street, serving in many roles including as commander (Art) and president of the Ladies Auxiliary (Helen). They marched in many Memorial Day parades over the years.
Art was a NYC policeman for 22 years and retired as a detective in 1974 and then joined Insurance Crime Prevention Institute for another 20 years retiring for good in 1995. The Harding’s have traveled extensively across the U.S., visiting their children and grandchildren over the years and always enjoyed trips to remember their honeymoon at Atlantic City. Congratulations to a wonderful couple!
Contributed by Glenn J. Harding. Comments about this story? Mmalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
