Long-Lost College Ring Reunited with Owner After 56 Years

Fordham University graduates have had quite the reunion with their missing college rings, all thanks to a few electricians, metal detectors, and some diligent searching at Mount Sinai Beach.

Back in May 1969, Al Dizefano found himself at Cedar Beach when, in a moment of misfortune, he watched his cherished ring slip from his fingers and into the Long Island Sound. At just 21 years old, he believed that his gold ring, adorned with garnet stones and engraved with his name, was lost forever.

Now 77, Dizefano recalled, “It was a lovely ring. It meant a lot to me. I probably should’ve looked for it a bit harder.”

Fast forward more than five decades, and Dave Orlowski was scanning the sands at Cedar Beach when he picked up an encouraging signal on his metal detector. After several attempts, he discovered a distinctive ring while standing waist-deep in the water.

“I kept digging,” Orlowski remarked. “When I finally pulled it up, I was shocked by its size and condition.”

This particular ring celebrated the Fordham University class of 1969, featuring the school’s coat of arms and mascots. Inside, it bore the inscription “Alfred R. Distefano” in cursive lettering.

At 56, Orlowski, who hails from Port Jefferson Station, has accumulated a collection of gold and silver treasures from Long Island’s beaches and lakes over the past 25 years. Initially considering keeping the ring—worth a potential $2,000 due to its white gold palladium content—his plans changed when his wife, Dennis, weighed in.

“She said it felt wrong to keep the ring since it had someone’s name on it,” Orlowski recalled. “Then she asked if I’d want my own ring back if the roles were reversed, and that made things clear to me.”

He then connected with a Facebook group dedicated to the Fordham University class of 1969 and reached out to its administrator. Karen Manning, a companion of the school, helped link Orlowski with Dizefano through a mutual connection.

“David made me feel hopeful about humanity again,” Manning mentioned, reflecting on the situation.

Dizefano, who left New York City in 1974 and later settled in Hicksville, now resides in Arlington, Texas. He was stunned to discover that his long-lost ring was found merely half a mile from where he lost it. “It’s like once in a blue moon a ring gets to enjoy a long life underwater,” he mused.

He shared that he originally bought the ring for $110 shortly before graduating in early 1969. At the time it went missing, he couldn’t afford a replacement. After pursuing a career in medicine, Dizefano retired in 2023 after nearly five decades as a medical oncologist.

Dizefano expressed his gratitude to Orlowski at least “a hundred times” and even mentioned sending him a gift from Texas as a token of appreciation. “He mailed it to me, and I received it within a week—it’s in fantastic condition,” Dizefano said, now proudly wearing it. “I thought it was time to make up for lost time.”