NEWS

Pen pal picnic

Posted 5/31/23

In 1966, while still a freshman at LaSalle Academy, in Providence, Cranston Resident Ed Bastia and his class began writing to French students overseas. While his whole class created relationships …

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NEWS

Pen pal picnic

FAMILY TOGETHER: Laura Bastia, her father Ed and mother Kathy pose next to their French friends Pierrette and Mylene.

IT’S A PICNIC: Supportive friends, neighbors and family happily join together to greet their guests from France. X

IT’S A PICNIC: Supportive friends, neighbors and family happily join together to greet their guests from France. At right Pierrete cuts into the ceremonial welcome cake decorated with the French flag as Laura, Ed, Mylene and family Catherine Conant look on.

Posted Wednesday, May 31, 2023 5:45 am

In 1966, while still a freshman at LaSalle Academy, in Providence, Cranston Resident Ed Bastia and his class began writing to French students overseas. While his whole class created relationships with foreign pen pals, Ed’s friendship with his never ended.

Ed Bastia and Pierrette Dupieu have been writing each other regularly for almost 60 years. Before this weekend the two had only met once before, in 1976 when Ed visited France to meet his friend of ten years.

This visit, Pierrette and her daughter Mylene decided to take up the trip to see Ed and meet his family. After spending the weekend in Rhode Island, the two families have plans to go on vacation together. The group will travel to Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and then take a trip to Maine before Pierrette and Mylene head back home to France. (Photos by Steve Popiel)