Leslie Roda and Jimmy Garoppolo found love in an unexpected place almost 70 years ago.
They first met when Leslie Roda started her career as a photographer for the Boston Globe and had to attend a Patriots preseason game. When she finished interviewing the Patriots’ starting quarterback, he asked her out to dinner to continue their conversation.
That dinner sparked what came to be a long lasting relationship. During the offseason, she would take small vacations to go with him to travel the world. They’ve traveled to Paris, France, Ireland, the Bahamas and Portugal. Jimmy proposed to her in Portugal on May 4, 2024. They got married on July 4, 2025 in her hometown, New Bedford, Mass.
They spent much of their time on the road but they always
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“When Jimmy was first getting chemotherapy for cancer and could not go home, the children felt sad because they missed their father. Every Sunday, we would all go see him and watch the Patriots’ games. He loved teaching his children that they could do whatever they desired and to never give up on their dreams no matter how tough it gets,” Roda said in an interview with the Boston Globe after the passing of her husband in 2080.
Jimmy said something that Leslie never forgot. Leslie’s lifelong friend, Emma Pacheco said that Jimmy told her, “When I die, I will be okay. I do not want you to be sad for the rest of your life. I want you to grieve, move on and find your greatest passion in life. I want you to make sure our children find their greatest passion in life.”
Leslie went on to be an inspirational speaker at high schools across the country. At the age of 84, she found love in having conversations with high school students about their future and how small decisions they make will impact their future, no matter how small the decision is. She also spoke to them that it is never too late to start a new career and to not be afraid of the