Vincenzo and Elaine's 50-year love story rooted in music and devotion

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

"Real love comes over time. It comes from all the things you share throughout your life."
In 1971, Vincenzo Pandolfi was at a restaurant in Italy when a casual suggestion from his dad changed the path of his life.
"I was there with my father and [he] said, 'Go and talk to the English girl behind you. She can't read the menu,'" Vincenzo recalled.
"She looked absolutely gorgeous, but turned out to be from Australia.
"She was a bit taken aback — I had very long black hair — so I helped her with the menu.
"Then she said, 'I'll buy you a beer.'"
A chance meeting brought the pair together. / It sparked a decades-long love story.
That 'girl' was a woman named Elaine and, as it would turn out, the love of Vincenzo's life.
The pair hit it off immediately, particularly over their shared love of music.
"Elaine was a pianist, I played keyboards, so we both had that in common," he told ABC iview's The Piano.
Three years later, in September 1974, Elaine and Vincenzo married.
A year later, they made their way back to Australia by ship, where they spent decades building a life and family — all with a piano and music at the heart.
The couple's chance meeting led to decades of love. ( Supplied )
Vincenzo and Elaine's love story began in the '70s. (Supplied) Elaine and Vincenzo saw the world together. ( Supplied ) Vincenzo and Elaine met in the early 1970s in Italy. ( Supplied ) Elaine, Vincenzo and their family. ( Supplied ) Vincenzo and Elaine, and their granddaughter. ( Supplied ) Elaine and her granddaughter ( Supplied )
Almost 40 years later, though, their love for one another was truly put to the test.
In 2014, Elaine had a stroke.
"As a primary carer, when someone you love is afflicted with a life-changing event, it's devastating," Vincenzo said.
"Because of the illness [there] is that [feeling], you know, that you have something special that you might lose soon.
"You do the best you can to be strong for her sake and to be the best you can and … to make sure that what's left of her life, it's a good life."
After Elaine's stroke, Vincenzo became her primary carer. ( Supplied )
Elaine was able to receive care at home and Vincenzo made sure one of the constants in their shared life — music — was with her every day.
"Music is an integral part of our relationship," he said.
"The piano is downstairs in our living room, and Elaine is upstairs in the bed and she can hear the piano.
"I hope that when I play it, it brings her joy."
The piano played an ongoing role in Elaine's life. ( Supplied )
Elaine, like Vincenzo, was an avid piano player. (Supplied) Vincenzo Pandolfi and wife Elaine ( Supplied ) Music was dear to both Elaine and Vincenzo. ( Supplied )
The 'light of my life'
Vincenzo was one of a small group of people chosen to perform on ABC iview's new series The Piano, while legendary pianists Harry Connick Junior and Andrea Lam watched on.
Before performing, Vincenzo gave a heartbreaking update: Elaine had died a few weeks earlier, at the beginning of September.
"We took [Elaine] into hospital at the beginning of the month … the last six nights we spent in the room with her holding her hand while she passed because we didn't want her to die alone," Vincenzo said.
Vincenzo said Elaine would want him to keep playing piano and performing. ( Supplied )
"Elaine was one in a, not in a million, but 100 million.
"She could sell ice to the Eskimos, even as ice was melting," he joked.
Vincenzo dedicated his performance to Elaine.
"She was the light of my life," he said.
"All the moments that you spent together that are special, the lives you share together, the memories that you share together, contributes to forming a, wonderful, wonderful bond.
"She really did make me a better person."
Vincenzo and Elaine spent decades in love ( Supplied )
Vincenzo and Elaine had a special bond. (Supplied)
After his first performance, Vincenzo was hand-picked by Connick Junior and Lam to play at a special concert for The Piano's finale.
Even though he and his family were awash with grief, Vincenzo shared that the opportunity was a welcome distraction.
"It's tough, but Elaine will want me to keep going," he said.
"Fortunately, you know, music has helped me. Participating in this has helped me, 'cause it's given me something to focus on.
"[The concert is] giving me more incentive to keep playing and … I wish she had been here with me to be able to witness it."

On the night of the concert, with his children sitting in the crowd and his fellow performers cheering him on, Vincenzo performed as a montage of he and Elaine's life played behind him.
"I'm just so proud of Dad," his daughter Cassandra said after the performance.
"That was amazing, and Mum would've been really proud. She'd be so happy."
An emotional Vincenzo said he "couldn't think of a better tribute" to his partner in life.
"I think Elaine was sitting right next to me."
Vincenzo described Elaine as "the light of my life". ( Supplied )