Norah O'Donnell

Catching Up With Carol
Whatever It Takes
Last winter Rich and Gary Borgia threw a little anniversary party for their parents.
It was 70 years in the making. 70 years, that started before December
19, 1942.
Felice Borgia was born in his family’s lower Manhattan home February 13,
1920 (said the midwife) or 14th (said New York State). Catherine Leoci was
an Astoria girl, born 3 years later. Back in the days when couples didn’t meet
online, they met in Astoria’s Italian neighborhood, introduced by friends before
World War II. Neither had finished high school. Catherine left at 16.
Her dad had died, her mother had to go to work and she had to raise her
younger siblings. And it seems Felice was having so much fun in school, he
left early by mutual agreement.
But December 1942 it was war. Felice was in Naval training in Chicago, and
about to ship out. 20-year old Catherine got on a train alone, to get married.
They’re of
the era where
divorce wasn’t
ever discussed.
It wasn’t on
the radar.
December 19, 1942 Felice and Catherine battled one of the
first storms of their life together. A blizzard almost kept them
from getting to their Chicago Catholic Church. It was so bad,
the couple who married just before them was still there. They
realized Felice and Catherine had no one else, so they invited
the new Mr. and Mrs. Borgia to their reception.
Four months later Felice went to war onboard the aircraft
carrier USS Langley II. Catherine went back to Astoria to wait.
And pray. While Felice became a Petty Officer putting fuses in
bombs, and bombs on planes. He earned 11 stars for fighting
by Carol Silva
11 battles in the South Pacific. He got one quick visit home when the Langley
was damaged in kamikaze raids off Okinawa. Baby Rich arrived nine months
later. Then, in September 1945, Felice went home to Astoria for good. But
one-year old Baby Rich didn’t want to let this stranger in the front door.
Baby Gary came four years later, while Felice was making pots in a factory.
He hated it, but it was work, until a neighbor recognized Felice’s intelligence,
charm and potential. He offered Felice a job where he worked, at John Hancock
Life Insurance. Felice was so good, he won awards, big trips, a management
position – and flexibility that gave him time to hang with the guys. That
“time with the guys” didn’t jive with the needs Catherine saw, for a Long
Island home in Williston Park, and savings for the boys’ college.
How did they fight in those days Rich says like a lot of other World War
II couples. They staked out their positions, without all the talking and even
counseling we do today. “My mother was determined they were going to be
together. It was going to work. They were in love. My father is crazy about her.
And they’re of the era where divorce wasn’t ever discussed. It wasn’t on the
radar. No body jumped ship, as hard as it got, and sometimes it was rocky.”
At their anniversary party, Felice revealed to his sons, there are two other
secrets to 70 years of marriage. “Learn to say ‘Yes Ma’am’ and never change
the battery in your hearing aid.”
Whatever it takes! Happy 71st Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Felice Borgia!
News 12’s Carol Silva has been bringing Long Islanders their local news for
more than 25 years weekday mornings at 5:00AM on News 12 Long Island.
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