Residents Helen and John Pino observed their 64th wedding anniversary in June, marking a milestone that began on the dance floor of a Boston hotel.
“They had stag dances back then where girls could meet boys,” Helen said. “Today I guess they go to barrooms,” she added, with a little laugh. John asked Helen for a dance, and then a date. By their third date, he told Helen he was bringing her home to meet his parents.
“He said, ‘You know what that means!’” Helen recalled, smiling. “I guess he didn’t believe in long engagements.”
John and Helen share two passions: their love of family and a deep devotion to their Roman Catholic faith. Their most memorable moments in life were the births of their children, Maria and Paul.
The couple’s spirituality was evident from the start: their standing “Wednesday night date” consisted of praying a novena at Roxbury’s Mission Church.
Helen attended parochial schools, and upon high school graduation, a nun said she had “the perfect job” for her.
“She wanted me to become a nun!” Helen said, grinning. “I guess I should have been flattered.”
Instead, Helen went to work at the phone company, where she worked as a manager in its accounting department until the children came along.
John, meanwhile, graduated from Boston College Law School and embarked on a distinguished career in justice. In 1978, he earned a prestigious associate justice appointment.
While very involved in her children’s activities, Helen also found time for sewing, needlepoint and cross-stitch.
John taught law, sat on numerous boards and served as president of the Massachusetts Judges’ Conference.
In 1991, the Justinian Law Society of Massachusetts honored John with its revered Meritorious Service Award.
John attended daily mass for 70 years, Helen said, because “He felt he had so much to thank God for.”
When John retired in 1994, the couple moved from Jamaica Plain to the Falmouth house they bought in 1969. They lived in Falmouth until moving to Decatur House in 2020.
We enjoy having Helen and John in our community.
