Canton High’s Marcone has evening to remember

The following story originally appeared in the April 2 edition of the Canton Citizen.

As a sophomore at Canton High School, Kaitlin McCarthy met Matty Marcone in one of her classes. Marcone, who has learning delays and medical issues, attends regular education classes with the support of a full-time aide. A junior this year, McCarthy was looking forward to the Canton High School junior prom and wondered if Marcone would attend.

Kaitlin McCarthy pins a boutonniere on her prom date, Matty Marcone. (Moira Sweetland photo)

A few months ago, McCarthy talked with her boyfriend, Brian Regan, about Marcone and the prom. Regan suggested what McCarthy was already thinking — that she should invite Marcone to be her date.

“Brian is a senior and I am a junior,” McCarthy said. “We thought this would be the perfect year to do it, as I would have my prom in March and Brian would have his senior prom in May.”

McCarthy spoke with Marcone’s aide to get the process going. Marcone’s parents, Susan and John, were thrilled about the invitation for their son.

“He probably wouldn’t have gone had he not been asked,” Susan said. “He’s very shy.”

Once the Marcones agreed to the date, Matty’s teachers began to ask him how he would respond if he were asked to go to the prom. They talked with him about how to act and what to say if that happened. When McCarthy asked him to be her date, he confidently said yes. Then his teachers began to work on his dance moves. Eventually they and the school nurse volunteered to attend the prom.

“This took a whole community to pull together,” Susan said. “Brian was gracious to let this happen. It was truly amazing.”

Last Friday evening, Regan and his mother went to McCarthy’s house to see her and Marcone take photos before they joined several other couples in a Hummer limousine that took them to Venezia in Dorchester for an evening of dinner and dancing.

“Matty deserved that night that every high schooler remembers for the rest of their lives,” McCarthy said. “Matty and his family should have those pictures and that memory of getting the tux, buying the corsage, taking pictures, and experiencing prom as a whole.”

McCarthy and others texted pictures and videos of a cool and calm Marcone dancing the night away. Then the king and queen were announced — and the winners were McCarthy and Marcone. CHS history repeated itself: Susan Marcone’s parents were crowned prom king and queen in 1960.

“The overall experience was amazing,” McCarthy said. “Our student government did a great job with the venue, and everyone could tell how much work they had put into it. Matty and I had a great time and I think being crowned prom king made the whole experience more special for him.”

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on May 1 2015. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.