From the archives: 5 from LI experience one shining moment

This story was originally published in Newsday on June 20, 2004

When Diane Diglio received a call in February telling her that she had been selected to carry the Olympic torch, she was a bit surprised.

Not because of the honor it bears, or because of the millions that dream of one day being part of Olympic glory, but rather because she never even asked for the privilege in the first place.

"It was the most exhilarating experience of my life," said a breathless Diglio after she finished her leg of the journey yesterday. "There are no words to ever describe it."

Diglio was one of five Long Islanders chosen to carry the flame around New York City yesterday. She was selected in a contest held by Coca-Cola, an Olympic sponsor, in which participants submitted short essays describing how they have been sources of inspiration and positive change in the lives of others. Diglio's essay was written without her knowledge and submitted by her mother on her behalf.

"Diane is a pretty remarkable lady," said Diglio's mother, Sue Diglio, whose essay highlighted her daughter's impressive record of service in the Special Olympics, religious instruction and academic achievement, all of which she accomplished despite being born without her right hand. "Our motto in this house is, 'You can never say "can't,"'" her mother said.

Diglio, 22, a full-time graduate student at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Brookville, and a former star softball player at Carle Place High School, is one of three on the Island to be chosen through Coke's contest.

Joan Siweck, a legal secretary from Commack, and Anthony Angelico, a graduating senior at Hauppauge High School, also were selected through Coke's contest.

Siweck, who has cared for her 83-year-old former neighbor at a nursing home for over a year by making medical decisions, keeping track of bills and providing moral support during medical procedures, was also selected after her sister, Ann Heltz of Bethpage, nominated her.

"She just took it upon herself to help her," Heltz said of Siweck's assistance to her former Uniondale neighbor, 83-year-old Emily Brostek. "There were times when she wasn't going to make it, and my sister was there. She has to make life decisions for her, and they are all very tough."

Angelico, 18, was selected with an essay of his own.

A Hauppauge resident of six years, he expressed awe at the intense connection the torch has with the games themselves.

"To be carrying the torch and to be the only person that has it at one point in time, and to know that the flame you carry is the same flame that will light the cauldron in Athens a couple months from now, it kind of blows my mind," he said last week.

Angelico, who participated in his high school's student government, musical theater group and swimming and diving teams, plans to attend the University of Delaware this fall to study mass communications.

In 2002, he and his fraternal twin brother, Dean, were escort runners for the Winter Olympics torch, so this year's honor came with some familiarity.

Angelico is not the only one acquainted with symbolic journeys like that of the Olympic flame.

Daniel Rowan, a retired New York City firefighter from Massapequa Park, cycled cross-country after Sept. 11, 2001, in hopes of "uniting America after the terrorist bombing," he said. Rowan, 48, was picked to carry the flame after his wife, Georgine Rowan, entered him in a contest held by Olympic sponsor Samsung Electronics.

"I have a calling in life" since 9/11, Rowan said. "I lost 10 of my men. It's a wonderful thing to run through the city that you've saved for 21 years."

Samsung also invited the president of Harvey Electronics, Franklin Karp, a resident of Roslyn since 1977.

Karp, 50, who helped save his company from bankruptcy in 1995 only to quadruple its size within a decade, said he was honored by the chance to take part in the fanfare.All torchbearers ran about a quarter mile at different locations throughout the five boroughs.