Twenty-Four Grandchildren and a Love Story: How a 97-Year-Old Couple Changed a Fourth Grade Classroom

Sometimes the most powerful community partnerships begin with something as simple as a handwritten letter.

For 25 years, Federal Way teacher Ta Sukovaty has guided fourth-grade students at Wildwood Elementary through the challenges of reading and writing. This year, however, a small classroom experiment turned into a lesson about kindness, belonging, and the power of intergenerational connection.

The story began at Judson Park Retirement Community, where Ta met Patrick and Marianne Nardo, a remarkable couple whose love story stretches back to World War II.

Now both 97 years old, Patrick and Marianne never had children of their own. Marianne, who uses a wheelchair and has limited vision and hearing, spends much of her day resting. Patrick serves as her devoted caregiver, rarely leaving her side. Despite the challenges of aging, their commitment to one another remains unmistakable.

Wanting to give Patrick an engaging outlet and her students a meaningful writing experience, Ta suggested a pen-pal project.

The idea was simple.

Her students would write letters to Patrick and Marianne. Patrick would write back.

What happened next surprised everyone.

Each student received personalized responses written in Patrick’s elegant penmanship. Along with words of encouragement, he offered gentle suggestions to help improve their writing skills. Before long, Ta noticed something remarkable: her students’ writing abilities were improving, but so was their enthusiasm for learning.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

One day, a student who had immigrated from Afghanistan looked up at his teacher and asked, “Are they my grandpa and grandma?”

Ta laughed and explained that they were not.

The student thought for a moment and replied, “Well, I don’t have grandparents, and they act like they’re our grandparents, so I’m calling them Grandpa and Grandma Nardo.”

Within minutes, the nickname spread through the classroom.

From that day forward, Patrick and Marianne became “Grandpa and Grandma Nardo” to all 24 students.

What began as a writing exercise evolved into something much deeper.

The students eagerly created cards, drawings, and letters. Patrick couldn’t wait to respond. He celebrated their accomplishments, encouraged them through challenges, and regularly told them how proud he was of their progress.

For many children, especially those lacking nearby extended family, the relationship filled an emotional gap they didn’t even realize existed.

The impact was equally profound for the Nardos.

When Ta would visit during lunch, Patrick proudly introduced fellow residents to what they are up to, sharing pen pal exchanges.

“We have 24 grandchildren,” he would tell them with a smile, “and we don’t have to do any of the work.”

The couple embraced their new role wholeheartedly.

They donated school supplies, contributed money for classroom pizza parties, and quietly helped students in need. When one family couldn’t afford a much-needed haircut for their son, the Nardos stepped in.

The gesture left a lasting impression.

“Wow,” the young boy later told his teacher, “I can’t believe Grandpa and Grandma paid for my haircut when we’ve never even met face-to-face.”

The gratitude in his eyes said everything.

The relationship continued to blossom throughout the school year.

When one student won the Lakehaven Water & Sewer District Calendar Art Contest, Patrick was so proud that he gifted her a beautiful watch to celebrate the achievement. Her parents were so touched by the couple’s kindness that they brought their daughters to visit the Nardos at Judson Park. During the visit, Patrick and Marianne welcomed them warmly and even presented the younger sister with a teddy bear.

In an era dominated by screens, instant messages, and digital communication, a stack of handwritten letters built something extraordinary: a bridge between generations.

For the students, Patrick and Marianne became mentors, cheerleaders, and honorary grandparents.

For the Nardos, the classroom provided purpose, connection, and the family they never had.

And for everyone involved, the experience served as a powerful reminder that community isn’t defined by age, geography, or even blood relation.

Sometimes, it begins with a letter.

And sometimes, it grows into a family.