You can say that history is part of the plot in the life story of Carol and Frank Floriani.
They met in a history class, they have lived for 42 years in her childhood hometown and they love tribute bands.
A Romance That Started in Class
In the early 1970s, Frank and Carol were both students at the University of Dayton (Ohio).
A senior and honor student, Frank was approached by a history professor and asked to take the place of a graduate student who was no longer available to assist in the classroom.
“He told me I was going to take attendance and grade papers,” said Frank.
Carol, a freshman, immediately noticed the “cute” teaching assistant.
“I would ask lots of questions in class and visit him in his tiny, closet-like office,” said Carol.
Frank says he was initially confused why Carol, who he remembers as “submitting the best essays in class,” was frequenting office hours.
Their first date was to the movies, to watch the popular film at the time, A Clockwork Orange.
“We have been together since that first date” says Carol. “We will celebrate 50-years of marriage next year."
Careers in Law and Publishing
After graduating with a degree in history, Frank began law school at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
Frank has been a partner at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo PC for 40-years, where he represents plaintiffs in civil litigation.
“I have been at the same law firm for 47-years and still go into the office in Manhattan three days a week,” said Frank.
Carol decided to transfer to Rider University after her freshman year and then spent a year studying in Spain at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
After graduation, Carol began her career in publishing working in both the editorial and publicity departments at some of top publisher ing house Simon & Schuster.
One author who made an impression early-on in her career was beloved children’s author Judy Blume who had just penned her first adult novel.
“We were together on a media tour for Wifey and spending lots of time in hotels across the country. The book was controversial at the time,” said Carol. “Judy was in her 40s and I was in my 20s and I was influenced by her to write.”
Carol’s career included becoming Director of Publicity of Silhouette Books, a major romance novel imprint.
In the early 1980s, Ricardo Montalban, the actor known for his starring role in the popular television program, Fantasy island, became their spokesperson.
“He was a gentleman and very nice to work with,” said Carol.
The 1980s was also the time Carol began her writing career, authoring two teen novels, A Summer to Remember and Dancing in the Dark.
Putting Down Roots in Wyckoff
It was also during this time period that the couple began house hunting on Long Island and in New Jersey.
“Frank was raised in Massapequa and my family moved to Wyckoff when I was 12-years old,” said Carol.
Wyckoff was the victor in their search and they purchased their first house on Martom Road, later moving to their current residence on Canterbury Lane.
Carol says she has fond memories of growing up in Wyckoff including meeting her long-time friend Elinor “Ellie” Rafferty in eighth grade at Eisenhower Middle School.
“I went to Immaculate Heart Academy and Ellie went to Ramapo but we stayed friends,” said Carol. “We were in each other’s weddings and we talk every day. I call her my long-time friend."
Carol acknowledges that today’s Wyckoff has more homes and traffic and fewer sheep and horses but she still maintains that it has a country feeling.
“We have Abma’s farm and the Russell Farms and Community Parks,” said Carol. “I still love living here.”
A New Mystery Novel Inspired by Home
You might recognize Wyckoff in Carol’s first new work of fiction in 35 years, Invitation to Murder.
The book introduces readers to the main character Lacey Langdon who inherits a printing and party-planning business and moves back to her hometown. She is asked by her aunt, who recently donated ten acres to the development of a community park, to organize an event in celebration. The ceremony is interrupted by the discovery of a dead body.
“The house in the book is inspired by Wyckoff’s own ‘Meer House,’ located near the entrance to Community Park,” said Carol. “The owners of the Meer property gifted the land that is now Community Park.”
Carol held the launch party for the book at Wyckoff’s Dear Reader bookstore.
“We had a huge turnout and Frank passed around champagne to celebrate,” said Carol.”I am so thankful to Allie, the owner."
Family, Music, and What's Next
Among the guests, were members of the tribute band “Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience.”
“We will go away for the weekend to listen to them play,” said the couple. “Music keeps you young and tribute bands give you nostalgia.”
When not on the road following Double Vision or tribute band Don Jovi, the couple adore spending time with their daughter Marisa, her husband Mike and their daughter.
“They live in Long Beach, NY so either we are going there or they come to Wyckoff,” said Frank. “We have a yearly family vacation on Cape Cod and there’s always a trip to Abma’s farm.”
While Carol has begun the chapters of her next book, Frank is checking the schedule of his beloved University of Dayton “Dayton Flyers” sports team.
“I will go to Dayton to cheer them on and when they play locally there are a lot of Flyers fans in the seats,” said Frank. “We are also fans of the NY Yankees and the NY Giants.”
Spending 54 years together provides Carol and Frank with an abundance of love, laughter and memories and as they like to say “the rest is history.”
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