Not everyone who graduated from high school around the same time “The Breakfast Club” was in theaters took the lyrics to that movie’s theme song, “Don’t You Forget About Me,” to heart. But a few did. Joe Pantaleo, for one.

In 1982, when he was a sophomore at Roseville High School in Roseville, Mich., everybody knew Mr. Pantaleo had a crush on Diana Ellis Jewell, a senior (known back then as Diana Ellis). The crush developed in the school hallway: Mr. Pantaleo was on crutches after breaking his leg playing running back during a varsity football game. He was struggling on the crutches and dropped a textbook. She saw him, scooped the book up and offered to carry the rest. He accepted.

“We became the best of friends,” said Ms. Jewell of the encounter that started their relationship. For Mr. Pantaleo, though, the dropped book became something more. “Diana was like an angel ascending that day,” he said. “I was so unsteady. When she said, ‘Do you need some help?,’ her voice did something to me.” His determination to win her heart started right then. It wouldn’t let up for 36 years.