‘ It’s September 1959, and Carone Berman decides to spend her first Friday night as a college student at a BU dance in Sargent Gym. Stan Berman, a sophomore at the time, goes to check out this mixer, just for fun. Their paths crossed at what was then-nicknamed the ‘Eternal Light,’ located in front of the building.
‘ ‘We met, talked for about an hour, and then went to the dance together,’ Carone said.
‘ Three years later, Stan, who graduated from the then-College of Industrial Technology in 1962,’ proposed to Carone at her house, and she accepted. Fifty years later, the Bermans reunited with about 35 of their friends and family in Sargent Gym for an anniversary party.
Oldies blared from speakers and the grandchildren ran around the gym on Sunday. Stan and Carone, who transferred from the School of Education to the Beth Jacob Hebrew Teachers College in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1961, sported matching BU sweatshirts, posed for cameras and danced the night away.
‘It was a surprise until last week,’ Julie DoAmaral, one of Stan and Carone’s three children said. ‘But they’re together all the time, so it was hard to keep it that way. Once the cat was out of the bag, it was just easier to plan out in the open.’
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore pitched the idea of holding an anniversary at BU to Stan almost a year ago, and the family had been planning it ever since.
Carone and Stan said the secret to their marital success has been humor. The day after the dance, Stan took Carone sailing in his uncle’s boat for their first official date, and it was then they discovered their shared love of jokes.
‘Our senses of humor is probably what’s kept us together,’ Carone said.
The couple said the love and support of their entire family has also kept them going. Their favorite moments together to date have been the births of their six grandchildren.’ ‘
SED sophomore Amanda DoAmoral, one of six grandchildren, acted as the ‘on-site’ planner for the anniversary party. She was in charge of decorations and said it didn’t take very long to set up.
Meanwhile, her brother Harrison DoAmoral, 17, was DJ for the night at Stan’s request.
‘It’s romantic and thoughtful that we are here 50 years later to celebrate,’ Harrison said.
‘ The other four grandkids said they played their part in the party planning by baking cookies and a cake.’
‘We love them,’ Joshua Berman, the youngest at age 4, said.
Cynthia Stoll, who said she attends the same temple as the couple and has known them for 10 years, said she and her husband came to support Stan and Carone.
‘They are the perfect couple,’ Lauren Berman, Stan’s cousin, said.
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