86-Year-Old Veteran Finally Gets Diploma From Hoboken High School

Hoboken NJ

27 June, 2021

8:01 AM

Description

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken High School's graduating class had an extra special member this past week when veteran Frank Rongo, 86, finally got his diploma. Mayor Ravi Bhalla wrote on Facebook: According to a story in News 12 Saturday, Rongo would have graduated with the class of 1951 but had to drop out earlier to help take care of his mom after his father died. Rongo's grandson Robert Bost said he reached out to school officials because, "Every year for the last 29 years, my grandpa here was telling me how much he regretted having to leave high school. He served his country, he worked hard his whole life. He just never had the opportunity to go back and finish it." Read more here. Back then, the local high school was Demarest High School, built in 1911 and turned into a middle school in 1962. Frank Sinatra attended the school in the 1930s, but didn't graduate. Don't miss Hoboken breaking news alerts when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter each morning with local news. Sign up with your preferences here. Got news? Email [email protected]. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.