Rancho Cucamonga Couple Celebrate 75th Anniversary

Pierina and Louis Di Donato of Rancho Cucamonga recently celebrated their 75th anniversary at a dinner with family at their son and daughter-in-law’s home in Rancho Cucamonga.

They met in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1942 when Peri was 15 and Lou was 17. When Lou joined the Coast Guard during World War II, Peri decided she would wait for him to come back from the war and told everyone she was waiting for her handsome sailor, according to an email from their family.

They were married July 5, 1947, at St. Simon and St. Jude Catholic Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., and then came to California, living in Norco until they moved to Ontario in 1953.

In 1983, they moved to Sedona, Ariz., and lived there until they returned to California several years ago to be closer to family.

Lou, who was a cook while serving with the Coast Guard, later had a variety of jobs but worked mainly in construction and as an apartment manager. He also worked with the U.S. Forest Service in Sedona in a program in which senior citizens assist the Forest Service. He is a member of the American Legion and the Elks.

While in Sedona, Peri sang with local bands and musicians at restaurants, clubs and retirement homes. Her specialty is music from the 1940s.

Their children are Gino Di Donato and wife Terri of Rancho Cucamonga and Angelina Robinson of New River, Ariz. They also have five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Source: https://www.dailybulletin.com/2022/07/22/rancho-cucamonga-couple-celebrate-75th-anniversary/