It isn't often that someone can celebrate a 50th anniversary three times within one year. Emilio R. (Junior) and Marlene DiCola are exceptions. "This is the first one," DiCola said at the 50-year reunion of the Brownsville High School Class of 1958 at Frank Ricco Lodge 731 Sons of Italy. "Next year will be (Marlene's) turn and also our 50th wedding anniversary. So, yes, 50 is a special number for us." The DiColas were a were among the nearly 150 classmates and guests savoring the festive mood of the Class of '58 gathering. While Junior graduated with that group, his wife, the former Marlene Marshall of Allison, graduated in 1959. They now live in Fairfax Station, Va. "We've been (in Virginia) since 1962, but we always look forward to coming back home," DiCola, a retired profes-sional firefighter, said. "It's great seeing longtime friends and recalling the proverbial good old days. We have so many fond memories of (Brownsville)."
They also remember their wedding as if it were yesterday."It was Aug. 6, 1959," DiCola smiled while emphasizing the significance of the date to the BHS reunion, which was held on Aug. 6. "So we're celebrating our 49th anniversary here."DiCola and his bride-to-be, the daughter of the late Cloyd "Bucky" and Rosella Burnell Marshall of Allison, eloped on that warm summer day 49 years ago."It was Kennywood Day for Brownsville and the surrounding communities, so everyone in town was headed for the traditional picnic at the park - everyone except us," DiCola recalled poignantly. "We went the opposite direction, taking Route 40 to Cumberland, Md., where we were married at Saints Peter and Paul Monestary." The DiColas were high school sweethearts, and Junior took advantage of his skills as a drummer with the BHS band to spend more time with Marlene. She and her twin sister, Dr. Darlene McNulty of Iowa City, Iowa, were majorettes. "Marlene and I saw each other in school, of course, and anytime the band was performing," DiCola said. "But the majorettes often had special practices for their marching routines and they always needed a drummer. Guess who volunteered?" The DiColas initially lived in Alexandria when they moved to Virginia in 1962. Junior took a job as a meat cutter in a super market.
"I had worked as a meat cutter at Kotcella's for a few years before we left," DiCola said in reference to the former Brownsville food store. "In fact, Albert (Dascenzo) and I both worked there. Marlene and I felt we needed to move for better job opportunities, so we headed for Virginia." DiCola later worked 25 years as a city firefighter in Fairfax Station and also owned and operated a Dairy Queen in that area. His wife, a registered nurse, worked in the health care profession for some 15 years and also owned and operated two businesses for 25 years. DiCola's brother, the late Albert DiCola, also was a longtime firefighter, and his son and son-in-law are following in those footsteps as a professional firefighter. The DiColas have four children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren."They keep us busy, that's for sure, but it's wonderful," DiCola said of the children.Their ties to the area are solidified by Junior's sister, Lena Shashura of Hiller, and Marlene's cousins, Barbara Sassano and her husband, Tony, of Allison and Starr Smalley and her husband, George, of Scenery Hill. Marlene's brother, Barry Marshall, and his wife, Pam, live in Perrysburg, Ohio.
