
WXXI News
Thomas Connors, Jr. and Nicholas Verzella have been friends for 90 years. The two men met in Kindergarten and attended East Rochester schools together, played sports together, and worked together as teachers for about three decades. They’ve also shared hardships: fighting in World War II, and later in life, losing their wives. Verzella calls Connors the brother he never had.
This hour, we sit down with both men to hear their wisdom and their story of a nearly century-long friendship. It’s part of Aging Together in New York, a statewide, multi-platform public media initiative addressing social isolation among older adults. Our guests:
- Thomas Connors, Jr., East Rochester resident
- Nicholas Verzella, East Rochester resident
- John Baynes, Monroe County Legislator in District 18