STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – From Naxos, with love.

Westerleigh resident Stan Ostapiak received his high school ring twice. The first time was when he graduated from Manhattan's Seward Park High School in 1962. The second time was two weeks ago, after a Greek young man found the ring 5,000 miles away, on the country's island of Naxos.

Amazingly enough, Ostapiak, 69, has never been to Greece. He had the ring stolen on his wedding night in Queens, during the fall of 1972. Some mysterious 5,000 miles and 42 years later, the ring has been mailed back to him, carrying Atlantic Ocean-sized sentiments.

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Stan and Elaine Ostapiak show off Stan's 1962 Seward Park High School class ring, which was stolen on the couple's wedding night and returned 42 years later. (Staten Island Advance/Vincent Barone)

In 1970, Stan Ostapiak and his girlfriend Elaine had been dating for a year. In a consciously gushy move, the two exchanged high school class rings to symbolize their commitment and love.

"We were in our 20s at the time, but when I was a teenager, growing up, that's what you did when you were going steady," he smiled.

Elaine, 69, kept Stan's ring on her key chain for two years, before the couple married on October 29, 1972. During their wedding reception at a Queens banquet hall, Elaine's purse was stolen. The thief plundered a few dollars and Stan's ring.

"Oh, I was upset; it was my husband's ring," said Elaine Ostapiak. "We had no idea who took it. And that was it—nothing for 42 years."

"I can't imagine anyone from the family taking it. No one's ever been to Greece," Stan Ostapiak laughed. "But can you believe it? Stolen on our wedding night."

It was an inexpensive class ring: vermeil, featuring a blue stone—maybe topaz, Elaine thinks. Stan said that his parents probably paid $50 for it. But like most who cherish their school rings, its value is weighed in memories, not gold.

"The ring's important to me because we didn't have a prom. It wasn't a ritzy society at the time in the sixties. I don't think the kids wanted to pay for [a prom]," Stan Ostapiak said. "But my family did buy me the ring. It was at least something from high school that I had to hold on to."

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Elaine and Stan Ostapiak on their wedding day, October 29, 1972. Stan Ostapiak's class ring was stolen from Elaine's purse later that night. (Staten Island Advance/Vincent Barone)

Vasilis Polykretis found the ring a month ago, when he was sifting through his father's belongings in Naxos. His father apparently tucked the ring away after finding it on the island in 1980.

With a few context clues, Vasilis Polykretis was able to seek out the Ostapiaks through a series of surprisingly simple web searches and emails.

The ring was engraved with the school name and Ostapiak's initials, "S.J.O." Seward Park High School graduated its last class in 2006, but the school's alumni association is a top hit on online search engines.

Polykretis emailed the group's president, Martin Kane, with the information he had gleaned from the ring.

Intrigued by the letter, Kane pulled out a 1962 yearbook and went through the names of the graduating class. Stan Ostapiak was the only possible match.

"It's just amazing," said Martin Kane. "The proverbial needle in a haystack. A ring found across the country, thousands of miles away."

Kane was eager to return the ring. He called the Ostapiak's house a few weeks ago and left a message on their answering machine.

Elaine was the one to check the voicemail later that day. She was flummoxed when she listened to Kane's news, originally thinking that the call might have been an elaborate scam.

"I said, 'How could this be?' But it was just too specific—it had to be true," said Elaine Ostapiak. "I said, 'Stan you have to listen to this message!' And when he did he was so excited."

When Kane confirmed that it was indeed Stan Ostapiak's ring, he reached out to Polykretis. Kane offered to receive the ring and deliver it to the Ostapiak's Staten Island home in Westerleigh, but Polykretis insisted on mailing the ring directly to its owner.

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Stan Ostapiak shows off his 1962 Seward Park High School class ring. "It's really unbelievable that two strangers went through the trouble of doing this," said Ostapiak. "That's what really got to me—what really impressed me. I'm so appreciative." (Staten Island Advance/Vincent Barone)

"Everything just fell into place," said Kane. "Stan was the only possible match and he stilled lived in the area with the same phone."

The package arrived about two weeks ago, traveling from Athens, Greece. It contained a freshly polished Seward Park High School Class of 1962 ring and a postcard.

"I hope this ring brings you joy and happiness, and maybe some old memories," reads Polykretis' postcard. "If you're ever again in Greece, we'd be more than happy to host you."

At the time Polykretis wrote the letter, he didn't know that the Ostapiaks have never even stepped foot in the country.

Stan Ostapiak is a retired police officer. Elaine, a retired legal secretary. They have three children and seven grandchildren, all residing on Staten Island. The Ostapiaks enjoy spending the autumn of their lives with family and out, about the local nightlife.

At the prospect of taking up Polykretis' offer, Stan gave an excited "maybe," but Elaine offered the more practical answer.

"When? We're always babysitting!" she laughed.

For the couple, it's enough just to have such a sentimental memento returned after being lost for so long. The two had really forgotten about it over the years.

"It's really unbelievable that two strangers went through the trouble of doing this," said Stan Ostapiak. "That's what really got to me—what really impressed me. I'm so appreciative."

As for the ring, it no longer fits Stan's finger, but that's okay. It's going right back on Elaine's key chain.