Reparata and The Delrons - Group Member Biographies

Group Member Biographies

Several of the group's former members and musicians, as well as fans, friends and family, are active on the Reparata and the Delrons Facebook page.

Mary Aiese ("Reparata") led the group throughout its existence, except for 1969-1973 when she stopped performing live to concentrate on her teaching career and raising her two children Nicole and Jonathan, leaving Lorraine Mazzola to take over as lead singer. As Mary O'Leary she taught fifth and sixth grade for 32 years. She also had a sporadic solo career in the 1970s, and had a hit in the UK and South Africa with "Shoes" in 1975. Around this time, she won a legal dispute with Mazzola over the name "Reparata". O'Leary reformed the group in 1978, finally retiring from performing and from teaching in 2000. Now a grandmother, she lives in Neponsit, Queens, and occasionally makes appearances and gives interviews about her career.

Nanette Licari was in the group from 1962-1988, except for a break in 1964-1965 and the 5-year period when the group was inactive from 1973-1978, when she worked as a cashier at a Brooklyn department store. She continues to perform in the Long Island area as a member of oldies group the Tercels. In 2002, she was reported to be working at a Catholic school ib Brooklyn. In summer 2011 she performed at the event "She's Got the Power", a celebration of the girl group sound at New York City's Lincoln Centre.

Lorraine Mazzola joined the group in 1965, and became lead singer when Mary Aiese left. She left the group to form Barry Manilow's backing group Lady Flash, staying with them until the group broke up in 1979. After losing the 1975 court case to Mary O'Leary over the sole right to the stage name Reparata, she formally changed her given name to Reparata, and all her subsequent work has been under that name. She co-wrote the book Mafia Kingpin: the True Story of Sonny Gibson (1981). Mazzola also wrote and acted in a film with Gibson called Dark Before Dawn (1988). She was nominated for an Emmy as writer-producer of an informational series for WCBS-TV in New York. In May 2001 she pleaded guilty to being involved in a fraudulent investment scheme with Gibson. Mazzola contributed an essay to the 2007 book Women's Poker Night, and for five years she was a contributing editor for Poker Pro magazine. She was Events and Operations director for WriteGirl, a programme in creative writing for at-risk young women in Los Angeles, where she lives. and continues to work as a writer. She is involved with the Gate Community, a spiritual organisation of entertainment professionals.

Cooky Sirico was a member from 1969-2000, except for the 5-year period from 1973-1978 when the group was inactive. At that time she became a secretary at a brokerage stock cage. She rejoined the group in 1978 and performed with them for the next 22 years, making Cooky the longest-serving member of the group after Mary O'Leary herself. Cooky and husband Joe Sirico continue to perform in the tri state area. They were in the oldies groups The BeBops and Johnny and the Raybands. Cooky currently performs with Witness, and Joe plays with the Brooklyn Keys.

Judy Jae was a Delron from 1995-2000 and went on to record four CDs of original country-crossover material in Nashville, and continues to perform in Manhattan and on Long Island. Her songs have been used in independent feature films.

Carol Drobnicki (1962-1964) married and became Carol Scordilis. She died from cancer in December 1980 at the age of 33.

Lauren Stich was in the group from 1988-1995. As well as a singer, she is a writer on horse racing, and bred horses herself. She wrote a weekly column for the Daily Racing Form from 1998. She was a racing handicapper and analyst for the Racing Digest until 2008 and continues to be an expert in her field, writing for several publications and websites.

Sheila Reilly (1963-1965) moved to Seattle, Washington and became a school principal.

Kathy Romeo (1962-1963) still lives in Brooklyn. She is a widow with two grandchildren.

Anne Fitzgerald and Regina Gallagher were in the group from 1962-1963, and Marge McGuire was a member from 1963-1965.

Drummer Augie Ciulla recorded with his nephews' band The Infinite Staircase, and was featured on their debut album The Road Less Taken, which was released in early 2009. Keyboard player Dave Camacho performs with the Borinquen Blues Band).