Ring back after several decades

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TONAWANDA, N.Y., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The family of a New York state man who lost his class ring more than 65 years ago said the item has been returned to them.

Elaine Kalpin of Tonawanda said her late husband, Tom, lost his 1944 class ring while swimming at a Canadian beach shortly after his graduation and she was recently contacted by Elmer Covelli, who said he found the ring buried in the sand at a beach in the 1950s, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported Tuesday.

Covelli said his son was recently able to find Tom Kalpin's name from the "TGK" initials on the ring by partnering with a friend at the Pentagon.

Covelli said he did a Google search and obtained contact information for Elaine Kalpin, whose husband died in 1991.

Kalpin said she immediately contacted her three daughters, who said they were ecstatic to receive the memento of their father last week.

"Happiness, just happiness," daughter Karen Vollmer said of her feelings about having the ring back in the family. "He didn't have a lot of possessions, especially from his youth."