The DeCaros’ grand duet began with dancing lessons.
By Kathy Boccella
Bill DeCaro remembers his wife as a stunning young woman who could tap like Ginger Rogers. Marie DeCaro recalls her husband as a handsome hoofer who was going to make it big in show business.
It was the start of a beautiful – and enduring – romance.
Wed in a Roman Catholic church in South Philadelphia in 1929, the DeCaros will mark their 80th wedding anniversary on June 20. That’s not the only milestone the dancing duo is celebrating this year.
On March 31, Bill DeCaro turned 100. Marie becomes a centenarian on Oct. 20. Their oldest surviving “kid” is 70.
While they are not the world’s longest-married couple – that feat belongs to a man and wife from India who were married almost 85 years – they sure seem to be among the happiest.
“They’ve been beautiful, beautiful years. Who could ask for anything more?” said Bill DeCaro, fingers laced with the woman he still calls “his bride,” in their room at Harlee Manor, a senior community in Springfield, Delaware County.
The 99-and-100-year-old couple from South Philadelphia met at Madam Duvall’s Dance School when they were just 15 and 16. He knew right away that the perky blonde with the crimped hair and bow lips was for him.
She played the field a bit.
“They were fly-by-nights, but not boyfriends, if you know what I mean. He was the real deal, he was a great guy,” Marie said about her husband.
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