These three couples have accomplished what every married pair aspires to: to reach their golden years together, still as in love as the day they met. They have fostered a love that keeps them young in mind, body and spirit, proving that marriage can stand the test of time if you work at it.
Pat Owens-Pietruszynski & Leonard Pietruszynski
This is not your typical love story. The pair first met in 1950 but only celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on July 2, 2016.
Old Friends, New Love
Pat’s first husband, Tom, and Len were lifelong friends and business partners. They shared the same homeroom at Reading Central Catholic in the 1950s, where Pat met them both, and remained friends through the years. After Len retired from Lucent Technologies, he and several colleagues began an engineering consulting firm, Keystone Technical Associates, which they invited Tom to join. Although the couples did not always keep in touch, they would see each other at church or company events from time to time.
Pat and Len’s love story began many years later, after both had been widowed. During his time at Keystone, Len taught Pat how to use a computer. So years later, when Pat needed computer assistance, she asked Len. “To me, the lowest form of communication is an email,” Pat says. “But I emailed Len and asked him to come take a look at my printer. That was January 13, and we were married July 2. It just clicked.”
Couples that Play Together, Stay Together
The couple celebrates their new love by spending plenty of time together and by staying active within their community at The Highlands at Wyomissing. They take walks in the park, work out in the fitness center, go line dancing, and compete in shuffleboard tournaments. Their latest adventure? A ballroom dancing class. They also lead a busy social life, regularly having guests over for dinner or open houses.
“It’s nice to get to know people and to celebrate the gift of life,” says Pat, who is living it to the fullest alongside her new husband. They also travel to see their children, three each, who are spread out across the country.
When Pat and Len aren’t together, they pursue a full schedule of their own interests. Pat is on the RSVP Spirituality Committee and is in charge of the classical movie nights in the community. Len even helps her design the flyers. Len is the president of The Highlands Resident Council and is a talented photographer.
The Secret Sauce
This couple has had it all. They have both had successful marriages and raised families, and they still had the chance to find love later in life. Both are very open about their past relationships and are comfortable sharing them with the other. “We don’t have any problem with our past relationships or talking about them because it’s part of our life experience,” Pat says.
In addition to being open and honest with each other, the couple stresses the importance of communication. They never walk away from a situation angry. They shared a simple trick all couples can try: hold hands while fighting. “There are times that we disagree, and sometimes we agree to disagree, and that’s okay. We’re attached at the heart, not the hip.”
This couple proves without a doubt that you are never too old for young love. Of finding it later in life, Pat says, “It’s very special; there’s time for everything in life.”
Dr. John & Dolores (Dollie) Gallen
The Gallens of Spring Township, who just celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary last month, have a love fit for the silver screen.
Love Scene
Many couples meet while they are out on the town. John and Dollie met at the Reading Civic Opera, but that night they were not seeing a show; they were the show!
To set the scene: It was January 1956. John was playing the part of Lieutenant Joe Cable and Dollie was Liat in South Pacific. John studied voice on and off for 10 years before being cast in the part. Dollie, who studied dance since the age of 3, was such an accomplished dancer that the play director added a ballet to the classic musical to display her talent. The pair later performed together in several other Civic Opera productions, but it was not until John convinced Dollie to choreograph one of his Villanova Turf & Tinsel shows that the two started dating. After nearly three years of performing together, they married in September 1959.
Supporting Cast
Over the years, the Gallens have juggled schooling, successful careers, and raising a family by providing each other with endless support.
Before they were married, Dolly graduated from Temple University. John earned an economics degree at Villanova and at age 30 returned to pursue a career in medicine. While he attended Hahnemann Medical School, both he and Dollie worked full-time jobs and raised their two oldest children. Not only did Dollie work to help put John through school, she also ran her own dance studio in Laureldale on weekends. “We worked very hard. I got an MD; she got a PHT,” John jokes. “That’s a Put Him Through.”
The couple returned to Reading in 1964 and John opened their practice. John always referred to it as “our” practice, because the two did everything together. Dollie stayed connected to her husband’s career as the practice manager and a member of the Medical Society auxiliary. During that time, she also dabbled in real estate and ran a business that made patterns for iron foundries. They both retired in 2002 and are finally enjoying a little downtime with each other, their four children, and their 10 grandchildren, who are all very close. They are avid golfers, attend their grandchildren’s sporting events together, and winter in Florida each year.
Backstage
What is the secret to an enduring marriage? “There is no secret,” John says. “You need a good sense of humor and can’t take petty disagreements too seriously.” Dollie, who is so wise that her grandchildren have nicknamed her the “Dolliemomma,” says, “It is important not to give up when things aren’t easy. Or perhaps we were just lucky.”
Whether it is the result of hard work or these two are just lucky in love, the Gallens have a marriage that will endure. Over the years, they have supported each other in all that they do and have become integral parts of each other’s lives. In a speech that John wrote for the couple’s 50th anniversary vow renewal ceremony, John shared, “The world sees her as my wife; I see her as my world.”
Glenn & Joyce Davidson
After 67 years of marriage, Glenn & Joyce Davidson of Wyomissing have proven love can conquer all.
Fall Fling to Forever
The night Joyce and Glenn met, they had just graduated from separate high schools and Joyce was on a date with one of Glenn’s schoolmates at a football game. In her absence, the boys chatted about football and dating. Her date explained to Glenn that he was going to see her again the following night, to which Glenn replied, “No, I have a date with her tomorrow night.” The rest is history. “She’s always been in my heart,” Glenn says. “I’ve never cared for anybody else.”
For the Love of Family
The couple married June 18, 1949, and shortly after Glenn enrolled in college. While he was in school, Joyce took clerical classes, both held part-time jobs, and they started their family. “It was a long struggle with both of us being so young and trying to get ourselves started,” Joyce recalls.
Their first daughter, Dayle, was born in 1952. Their second daughter, Donna, was born 18 months later and their third, Debra, 18 months after that. Daren, their fourth daughter, was born four years later. Glenn worked for an engineering firm and traveled the world, sometimes for weeks at a time, while Joyce worked and volunteered at Reading Hospital. Each night when Glenn would get home, he made a point to spend time with his girls individually. “He would always take one of them upstairs with him and talk about the day, even if it was just for five minutes,” Joyce remembers. Their dedication has created a very close family. Today, the Davidsons have eight grandchildren including BCL Account Exec Sara Woodward and two great grandchildren, and they receive a visit from someone in their close-knit family nearly every day.
That Little Extra Bump
The pair have approached their marriage with the same commitment with which they raised their family. Amidst their busy lives they have made a point to spend time alone together each week. “From the time we were married and had no money, we still tried to go out for dinner. Somehow or another that has maintained all the way through,” Joyce says. “So often you have no time to talk to your husband or wife. We’ve always kept Friday night to ourselves, and I think that’s important.” The result is a couple, and a family, that is completely devoted to each other.
In addition, the two have these words of wisdom to share about withstanding the test of time: “Don’t make mountains out of molehills,” Glenn jokes. Joyce agrees and says of the rough patches: “Sometimes you can do a lot more than you think. Sometimes it takes that little extra bump to make things straighten out again.” Their marriage may have required some extra bumps here and there, but they have faced everything together, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Glenn shares, “I’ve enjoyed every day of it. I was never once disappointed.”
By Ali Bechtel | Photos by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
