Albert Cappilelo and Elizabeth Bly met in May 2023 when she first came to RiverSpring Living in Riverdale, NY. They became an item that October and attended the facility’s “drum fit” fitness class weekly, where Cappilelo ultimately decided to ask Bly — on her birthday, no less — to marry him.
When RiverSpring’s Director of Therapeutic Arts and Enrichment Koreen Rogers and her staff learned of the 11-year resident’s intention to propose to his girlfriend, they immediately began drafting a plan.
“Once we got all the information, I said, ‘OK, how are we going to help make this a little bit more special,’” Rogers explained.
On and before the big day, the staff worked with Cappilelo and his friends in the class to fill the room with balloons and to play “Marry You” by Bruno Mars, the couple’s favorite song, on their yoga ball drums. With the song as his cue and a ring won during a Bingo match, Cappilelo popped the question while staff members held up a banner behind him reading “Will you marry me?” She said yes, grinning as she held her new ring up to the cameras set up to capture the moment.
Rogers said residents typically arrive already married, so engagements between residents are not common at RiverSpring, recalling only one other occasion like this in her 20 years with the facility.
Cappilelo helped Bly feel more comfortable during her transition into long-term care. Rogers described him as very extroverted and welcoming to new residents, especially in his position as president of the resident council. Bly is typically more on the shy side.
“Albert is more outgoing. He knows everyone,” Rogers explains. “He was there to provide a lot of reassurance and friendship to help her get acclimated as she began to stay here.”
While not always romantic, connections between residents are encouraged through socials, parties, clubs and the facility’s “welcome committee,” which comprises six or seven residents who volunteer to introduce themselves and reassure those who are newcomers to long-term care.
“Forging relationships and friendships is very important to residents for keeping and maintaining their quality of life,” Rogers said.
The date and location for the official ceremony are still up in the air. At 75 and 51, this will be both Cappilelo and Bly’s first marriage, and Rogers described the couple to be in “engagement bliss.”
“She is very happy to show her ring to whoever comes by and refer to herself as his fiance,” Rogers said. “We didn’t nudge them yet. We’re kind of letting them bask in their glow a little bit.”
And when the next stage is entered — wedding planning and execution — it’s safe to say that Rogers and team will be at the ready again to help in any way they can.
