Cantalupos Celebrate Golden Anniversary

Former Newtown residents Rocky and Annette Cantalupo recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

They were married at Mt Carmel Church in Port Chester, N.Y., on September 15, 1957, shortly after Rocky had enlisted in the US Army. His assignment took him to Geissen, Germany, and having missed Annette he proposed marriage. While he was stationed in Germany, the Cantalupos used their weekends to visit all of Europe.

After returning stateside, they settled in Bridgeport and later Newtown, and raised three daughters. Six years ago, Annette and Rocky decided to move to Sanibel Island, Fla., their favorite home away from home. After many years of vacationing, they established their dream of someday calling the islands home. Beautiful sunsets at the Mucky Duck, crab races at Tween Waters, and shopping along Periwinkle Way have become a permanent reality for the couple.

To mark their golden anniversary, the Cantalupos celebrated with a monthlong tour of Italy, visiting all of their favorite spots, including Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast, and spending some time with distant relatives.

Upon their return, they gathered with their family for a celebratory dinner at Emeril’s Orlando. Present for this evening were daughter and son-in-law, Candice and Marty Leighton, and their three sons, Zach, Nigel and Christian, from Newington, N.H.; daughter Laurie Clowers and her daughter Alexa, from Holly Springs, N.C.; and daughter Susan Johanson and her son Rocco, from Cape Coral, Fla. Laurie’s husband Jerry and Susan’s husband Carl were unable to attend.