Left to Right: Maria Pensato, Tony Di Iorio, his wife, Dora Evangelista and their daughter Cinzia
July 7, 2003

Tony Di Iorio is my life-long friend, and when he married Dora, she became a life-long friend too. This couple gives me faith in true, unconditional love. I know many people, but very few who have such a beautiful, solid relationship, sailing together through thick and thin. I think a great part of it is Tony's incredible sense of humor, and Dora's easy going nature. Above all, their mutual  unconditional love is a wonderful example for their two beautiful girls, Cinzia who is in the photo, and Patrizia, who was not present when the photo was taken. 

Who said that members of the opposite sex can't be true, platonic friends forever? For as long as I can remember, Tony has been a  part of my life. We met in the third grade, when I moved to a new home and school, and we went through elementary and high school together. Our friendship, fortunately, never ended. We may not see each other often, but when we do, it's like we never were apart.

By pure "coincidence", I met Maria Pensato at Tony and Dora's home, and she happens to be the grand-daughter of the lady who looked after me when we came to Canada from Italy. I was overwhelmed with emotion when she told me who she was, because I have such fond memories of her namesake, Maria-Luigia Pensato and her entire family; her husband Francesco and sons Nick and Antonio. They looked after me like I was a part of the family, and even though I was very young at the time, I remember how kind they were to me. Zia and her husband passed on years ago, and everyone who knew them cried, because they touched so many lives. They raised many children in their home, in a warm, secure, happy and loving environment. They truly have a special place in my heart.

WOW, what a day! Seeing old and new friends; the past and the future meeting by chance, on a sunny summer Monday afternoon.

Carmen Colombo

WOW Zone

Member of the Who's Who Historical Society