PUBLISHED by The Cambridge Chronicle
Cambridge —The torrential rain that canceled the Red Sox opening day game was no deterrent for Sox fans Dennis Coveney and Kelly Dugas, who were married in front of Cardullo’s in Harvard Square Monday afternoon.
Coveney, 47, and Dugas, 33, met when Dugas joined Cardullo’s “chair club,” an informal sitting area set up in front of the gourmet shop to allow passersby to watch Red Sox games on the flat screen in the shop window. Coveney, chairman of the club, promoted Dugas to “first lady” when they began dating two and a half years ago.
“I needed something to do, a place to watch the Red Sox games,” said Dugas, who was clad in her white wedding dress and hot pink rain boots for the special day. “He cares so much about me … I was coming out of a bad relationship when I started coming down to the chair club.”
Coveney, originally from Somerville, proposed to Dugas in front of the shop while they were watching a Red Sox game in September, said Dugas, who is from Waltham and worked at the Harvard COOP. They had planned the wedding for St. Patrick’s Day, but postponed the ceremony when Frances Cardullo, the shop’s late owner, became ill.
“I first came here with the chairs all lined up, and [chair club member] Bob Marshall gave me Dennis’ chair, and [Dennis] ran away,” said Dugas. “Frances walked up to the sidewalk with her big purse in hand and told him to go back. Frances would be proud of Francesca [Cardullo] putting this wedding on.”
The couple’s wedding was dedicated to Frances Cardullo’s memory, said Coveney. After the ceremony, the couple toasted to Cardullo with Red Sox champagne glasses.
“Dennis has touched a lot of people’s lives. He’s been around for years and years,” said Francesca Cardullo, the store owner. “They’re a wonderful couple and would help anybody.”
Coveney knows everyone in Harvard Square. He works at Cardullo’s washing windows and started the chair club in 2005, watching the games in front of the shop by himself until more and more people joined him.
“We get along good, watching the games,” said Coveney about Dugas. “She lets me go fishing on Sundays. We just work and live our ordinary lives.”
Two weeks ago, he told the Harvard Square Business Association about the ceremony, and over a dozen businesses sent gifts to contribute to the ceremony, from flowers and desserts to a honeymoon suite, said Denise Jillson, HSBA executive director.
“Dennis has been a friend of Harvard Square for a very long time … the whole wedding was planned in a week and a half,” said Jillson. “It’s wonderful that even on a rainy day, everyone in the community came out.”
Coveney helps the business association plan festivals each year. He also works for Petali Flower Shop, making deliveries by foot, bike and public transportation across the entire state, said owner John Selletto.
“He knows the streets in and out like you know your name,” said Selletto.
Coveney was also a volunteer for ten years and is a current staff member for the Harvard Square Churches Meal Program, said Laurie Howell, 58, the program’s volunteer coordinator.
“He helped us off and on when we needed him; that’s what Dennis does. One day, he’s delivering flowers, another day he’s doing something else,” said Howell. “I’ve watched him grow in the past 20 years into a real adult and take on real responsibility.”
The Rev. Patricia Zifcak, vocational deacon for Harvard Christ Church, conducted the ceremony.
“In a time when everyone feels so discouraged, Dennis and Kelly choose marriage,” said Zifcak. “It’s a wonderful sign of hope; they’ve given us a gift.”
Coveney’s best man, John Beath of East Boston, said he met the groom as a patron of the old Tasty restaurant, where Coveney used to work.
“They’re the best Red Sox fans I know, which is the best thing I can say,” said Beath.
Coveney said the gifts and guests that turned up at the ceremony were “overwhelming” and “unbelievable,” and he is excited to see all his family and friends. The couple said they would still watch the Red Sox game scheduled for the next day at 4 p.m.
“Nothing will change,” said Coveney. “We’ll still be out here watching the games.”
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