82 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JUNE 7, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Photo by Jenna Bagcal/QNS
In his last days, a Woodside singer marries love of his life
BY JENNA BAGCAL
two were taking the 7 train, and a chance
you’re 93, you do everything,” Moscatello
jbagcal@qns.com/@jenna_bagcal
encounter brought the Bronx-born veteran
said.
and Dominican Republic native
Patricia Crupi, the chaplain and spiritual
George Moscatello, 93 and Milady
together. On that day, Uceta was in Forest
care coordinator for Hospice of New
Uceta, 67 met in 1983 while riding the 7
Hills heading to Corona to visit some
York, presided over their wedding. She
train in Queens. Th ey wound up spending
friends.
read them a poem entitled “True Love”
more than three decades together when,
“Someone pushed me into him on the
and a passage from 1 Corinithians 13, as
in 2016, Moscatello popped the question
train,” she recalled.
husband and wife tenderly held each other’s
to her while out for dinner.
Th ey went to visit her friends together,
hands.
Uceta said yes and asked if they
and she said the husband of one of her
Lillie Klein, a music therapist from the
could marry in Israel, a place she has
friends acted as translator for them. From
hospice gave a special acoustic guitar performance
always wanted to visit. But soon aft er,
there, their relationship fl ourished.
of the Paris Sisters’ 1961 hit “I
Moscatello’s health began failing, and
At the time, she said, she did not speak
Love How You Love Me.”
they chose to postpone the wedding.
much English; the only words she knew
Also in attendance at the nuptials were
Now in hospice care while living in
were “I’m sorry”, “excuse me” and “yes.”
other hospice employees, including Dr.
their Woodside apartment, however,
In the beginning of their relationship,
Fred Schwartz, Sean Casserly RN, Carolyn
Moscatello wanted the chance to marry
they communicated using English and
Parson, a social worker and John Diaz-
the love of his life while he still had the
Spanish dictionaries. Eventually, Uceta
Chermack the hospice assistant administrator
chance. On May 31, with the help of the
said she started learning English.
and compliance offi cer.
professionals caring for him, they fi nally
Th e pair are avid travelers, making it a
On the day of his and Uceta’s wedding,
tied the knot in an intimate ceremony
priority to take about two trips per year.
he periodically broke into his own rendition
at their home.
Uceta said that one of her favorite places
of Frank Sinatra’s “It Was a Very
Moscatello — a former singer and a
they have been to together was Turkey.
Good Year” and joked that he would
war veteran — is currently a patient of
She raved about the beauty of the country
go back to being 17 if he could. Many
Hospice of New York, located at 45-18
and remembers how much fun they had
reminders of his vintage life could be
Court Square in Long Island City. He and
dancing on the trip. Th ey have also been to
found lining the perimeter of the room
Uceta declined to discuss the specifi cs of
Greece, Italy, Morocco and multiple cruises
where the ceremony was held.
his condition.
to diff erent countries around the world.
Th e model airplanes and sailboats
Th eir story began in 1983 when the
“I did everything in my lifetime. When
brought to mind Moscatello’s time during
World War II and the Korean War. Aft er
lying about his age, the then 16-year-old
Moscatello enlisted in the Army during
World War II and was discharged at 20.
Th e war veteran served in three branches
of the armed forces during his lifetime:
the Army, Navy and Air Force.
While serving he had the opportunity to
fl y planes, build boats and even ride in a
submarine.
In addition to serving in the armed
forces, Moscatello sang at nightclubs and
cruise ships during and aft er his time in
service. Some highlights that he remembers
about his singing career include
when he had the opportunity to perform
in British theater from 1942 to 1945 and
also when sang “Vesti la giubba” from
Pagliacci during his time performing in
Massachusetts.
In fact, for the wedding, he wore the
jacket that he used to wear as a nightclub
singer in 1949.
As for his longevity, Moscatello said
that his secrets were “a young woman and
cognac.” Th e ceremony didn’t include
cognac, but rather a champagne toast
for a happy marriage — and to a life well
lived.
After 35 years, George Moscatello and Milady Uceta got married on May 31.
/@jenna_bagcal