Love can bring people together in unexpected ways like at a dance class, on the basketball court, or a shared class in high school. Many teachers at McNicholas High School have found their partner when they least expected to and as a special Valentine’s feature, the Milestone is sharing some of their stories filled with memories and advice they’ve gained throughout their relationships.
Mrs. Ashley Brothers
Both Mrs. Ashley Brothers, Math department chair and teacher, and her husband graduated from McNicholas High School, although he was a year ahead of her. They both played basketball and when Brothers started practicing with the boys’ team to challenge herself, Mr. Brothers and another teammate took her under their wing to show her what they do to help to transition to the boy’s practices. Brothers used to play in a volleyball tournament every year for the epilepsy foundation, and when her team was down a player, she called her future husband. Afterwards all the players went back to her house where they first really connected. Brothers said without cell phones and with being 4 hours away at college, it was hard to stay in touch, but they always stayed friends. At the end of her sophomore year of college she transferred, and he was very supportive and a shoulder to lean on. For one of their dates, Brothers said they broke into the gym at McNick and played basketball. She also said, “I knew when I really liked him because I never let anyone win anything” and she tossed a game so he could win. In September, they will celebrate their 19th year of marriage. Brothers said to “date someone who brings out the best in you,” and if you are ready for marriage, “make sure you are marrying your best friend” because you need someone who will be there for you.
Deacon Peter Caccavari
Deacon Peter Caccavari is a theology teacher at McNicholas High School. He met his wife in an Irish dancing class during his 30s when they were part of the same dance group, the Horne Family Dancers. Before they started dating, Caccavari wrote extremely detailed driving directions down for his wife and because of her being very organized, she admired the detail. One summer, Mrs. Kate Caccavari was leaving for an Irish dance camp in West Virginia and Caccavari called to ask her on a date, but she had already left. When she returned from camp, she listened to the message he had left her and expressed how she had been waiting for him to ask for a while. For their first date they saw the movie The Sixth Sense. They only dated 6 months before they became engaged and in October of 2025, they will celebrate 25 years of marriage. Caccavari said that they are trying to plan to travel to Ireland soon because his wife is Irish. He advises those seeking the married life to “know what marriage is about,” know what the church teaches on marriage, know what you’re looking for, and “ask God to help find them, when you find them help God to discern is this the person you want for me and trust in that process.”
Mrs. Julie Dill
English teacher Mrs. Julie Dill met her husband at Ohio University. She had been dating another guy and when they broke up, his mother suggested she join the Newman Club. Dill saw Mr. Dill at her first meeting around Easter and thought “he’s cute or whatever” but they did not talk until later. Over the next summer he wrote letters to members of the Newman Club and Dill received one. She thought he sounded very conversational. When they arrived back at school the next year, he had English directly after her in the same classroom. One day he asked her out and they went and saw the movie Dirty Dancing, so their song is “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. Early on in their dating life, they went out with one of Dill’s friends. He came to pick her up, but she forgot something, so she ran back inside. He left to go get gas but because there were no phones, she had no idea where he went. Dill had thought he had just left. She said this is a funny memory they have together, and they have been married 34 years. Dill advises those hoping to be married one day to be open to different opportunities because “you never know when or how you will find love.” She also said being married is a huge commitment and you need to understand the other person’s perspective because it is important to work together.
Mr. Bob Noll
Principal of McNicholas High School, Mr. Bob Noll met his wife though his sister. His sister was friends with her and when in their 30s they went on their first date. He took her to Montgomery Inn, which has become their go-to spot for celebrating significant anniversaries. They decided to go on a retreat together and at the end of that retreat she told him she thought they should start dating. In late January of 1995, he officially asked her to date, and then a few months later on May 29, 1995, he proposed. They have been married for 29 years. He said that his best memory together is the birth of both of their girls. They would love to travel together later in life. Noll said that marriage is “the greatest adventure I have ever undertaken, and it is the most challenging thing I have ever done but it is worth it all.” He also said having his faith has helped him throughout his marriage.
Mr. Sam Roflow
Mr. Sam Roflow, a theology teacher, and his wife went to McNicholas High School. When they met, they were both running for junior class president. Roflow won the election when his friends stuffed the ballot box, so his wife was his vice president. On December 14, 1973, they went on their first date to the McNicholas variety show. They got married in 1980 and had their honeymoon in Bar Harbor, Maine, where they continued to vacation there very three years. Every year they went out to celebrate their first date, their anniversary, and their birthdays. They even went out on the weekends to the movies, restaurants, take walks through what is now Woodland Mound, or he would cook dinner. They were together 41 years before she passed away in 2021. After Denise’s death, Roflow compiled journal entries and essays they’d written over the years into a memory book that he plans to share with his grandchildren. Roflow said “our love was still growing when she died” and he continues to celebrate their milestones with their dog Lizzy. Roflow said to “keep dating when you get married,” because you are still growing after marriage.
The McNicholas Milestone 