Winner of the 9/11 Love Story of The Month - Robert and Karen Parro

This month's winner for the Love Story of The Month is dedicated to all the victims of 9/11.  This is a beautiful story of Robert and Karen Parro, both from Levittown, and I'm sure you'll agree is an amazing love story.    

Karen met Rob Parro (as known by his friends) in 1987.  They met through mutual friends in a Levittown bar.  Although Karen says it was not "love at first sight" they were meant to be together and their love for each other blossomed over the years to true love.  Their love turned out to be a match made in heaven.  Although they dated for 15 years, Rob waited seven years to marry Karen.  His reasoning was that Karen was too young to get married.  They were happily married for eight years and had a handsome son John, who was four when the horrendous 9/11 event transpired.      

Karen graduated from Division Avenue High School in 1986, and Rob graduated in 1984.  Rob played football for Division Ave High School and was great athlete.  Although Rob was very shy, everyone who knew him always said the same thing, that he was very accepting of people, he was friends with everyone and everyone loved him.       

Karen's fondest moments of Rob and her family was watching Rob teach his son John to play sports.  Although John was only four when he lost his Dad, he still feels his presence to this day.  Karen mentioned that she feels him with her all the time, especially when she does laundry.  "When he was alive he would never do laundry with me," she said, "but now I feel him there every time I am in the laundry room." 

Both Karen and her son feel very fortunate to feel his presence.  Karen chalks it up to having such a loving marriage with Rob.  "He was a true gem," she said. When asked why their marriage was so wonderful, Karen replied, "we had mutual love and respect for each other."      

Rob had been a firefighter for Engine 8 for eight years.  He was one of the first to respond to the 9/11 attacks.  He was a true hero!    

One of the things that gets Karen through the 9/11 anniversaries is the fact that her son John resembles Rob so much.   

To this day, Karen is very close to Rob's mother, Mrs. Parro, and loves her very dearly.      

Thank you Karen Parro for submitting this very beautiful story of your love story with Rob.