Jim and Ann Galante celebrated 50 years of marriage at Corpus Christi Church on June 25.

The couple renewed their vows with Father James Driscoll, Ann's cousin and the same man who married them 50 years ago in Sacred Heart Church in Manhattan.

Jim, from the Bronx, and Ann, from Manhattan, met in 1947. Jim, a veteran of World War II, spent his free time hanging out on street corners with neighborhood friends. When a better invitation, to a harvest hop, presented itself, James found himself face to face with his future wife.

"It was like destiny or something," said Jim. "I really think I was blessed."

Standing among a group of girls was Ann. Jim asked to be introduced, then he asked for a dance. His friends, departed and he remained, traveling home by subway at the end of his and Ann's first unofficial date.

Seven months later the two were engaged. A year after that on June 25, 1949, the couple was married at Sacred Heart Church on East 33rd Street in Manhattan.

The successful marriage came from many different elements, according to Jim, "Love is the first thing. We have always supported each other. Our religion was an asset. Every time we had a child it got better."

The couple began their family in the Bronx in 1951 where their children Patricia, Ann, Jim and Margaret were born. In 1956 they moved to Cambia Heights in Queens where Catherine and Joseph were born. Grandchildren, Cheryl, Elizabeth, Keri, Kevin, Keith, Jeremy, Trevor and Kyle would follow.

They moved to their present home in Mineola in 1969.

The most trying time for the couple also came from their children, and was sounded by a blood curdling scream at 4 a.m. They ran into a bedroom and discovered their daughter, Catherine, in a coma. She died a day later.

"It is the hardest thing a parent can go through," recalled Jim. However, despite this tragedy, "We have an angel now up in heaven and I'm sure she'll be with us at our anniversary, in spirit anyway."

Despite these trying times, the couple endured. Said Ann, "The main thing is to love and support each other."

She added as advice for couples just starting out, "I would say talk things out. You have to realize you are not going to agree on everything.

"If you love each other you can solve all problems, but you have to be patient. Everything takes time."

The couple also remained active in the community as well as within the family. Said Ann, "We were always very tolerant of each other. We always encouraged each other to do our own thing."

Jim served in the NYPD from 1952 to 1972 and retired a detective. For 16 years he acted as a special investigator for Chase Manhattan Bank. Active in many community organizations, Jim said he most enjoys belonging to the Long Island Harmonica Club.

Ann, active in community affairs, served on the Mineola Board of Trustees as a trustee from 1982 to 1985 and as mayor until 1991. In 1991 she was elected receiver of taxes for the Town of North Hempstead, where she remains to this day. Ann is also the president of the Soroptimist International of Nassau County.

Now, 50 years after it began, the couple is still active and still raring to go. Concluded Jim, "It's been a good life, I just hope we have many, many more years together."