In honor of Valentine's Day on Tuesday, the Daily News asked three local couples to share their love stories. They also offered some insight on relationships and marriage.
The Fullfords of Salisbury and the Haleys of Seabrook recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries, while Seabrook's Joan and Tom Lysik are newlyweds, just married this past July.
Lorraine and Paul Haley
Seabrook
Married May 27, 1961
Paul, 73, and Lorraine, 69, celebrated their golden anniversary at The Barn in Amesbury. The couple met as children and reconnected when Paul returned home after serving in the Navy — shortly after Lorraine graduated from high school. In August 1960, he asked her on their first date, to Ann's Diner in Salisbury.
"We had a cup of coffee and an English muffin," Lorraine says. "After that, we just saw each other every single day."
The Haleys lived in Newburyport for 45 years before moving to Seabrook. They have two children, Sue and Christopher.
How did you meet?
"We lived across the street from each other," Lorraine says. "My family lived over Leighton's Bakery at the corner of Pleasant and Market streets for years. My husband's family had a restaurant across the street."
Was it love at first sight?
"Yes, we never stopped seeing each other," Lorraine says. "I'm very lucky."
They began going steady in September 1960 and got engaged Nov. 18. Their wedding was at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport.
Do you have a favorite Valentine's Day memory?
"The first time I ever got a box of candy from him," Lorraine says. "I was just thrilled with that."
Did you have any expectations as to what marriage would be like? Has it lived up to it?
"I was only 18 going on 19, so I wasn't really into too many things," Lorraine says. "I knew I loved him. I didn't want him to have to go home anymore at night. I never ever wanted him to leave; I wanted him to stay with me."
What do you think the secret to a long-lasting marriage is?
"Helping each other," Lorraine says. "Not saying 'that's a man's job, that's a women's job.'
What relationship advice would you give to another couple?
"Love them for who they are," Lorraine says. "Live each day and be happy each day. Don't hold a grudge, it's not worth it. Don't give up when something goes wrong, don't give up too easily."
Noting that her husband goes food shopping for her and never complained when she would go play her weekly card games with her friends, Lorraine adds that it's important not to "be bossy" with each other, as well.
Grace and Ben Fullford
Salisbury
Married June 17, 1961
Ben, 75, and Grace, 70, marked their anniversary with a party at the Exeter Inn in Exeter, N.H. — the same place they held their wedding reception 50 years ago to the day. Surrounded by their family, the couple posed for photos in the same spots as their wedding day.
Originally from Salisbury, Ben, 21, encountered Grace, 16, an Amesbury native, at Belknap Mountain Recreation Area (now Gunstock Mountain Resort.) They dated for three years before they got married.
The couple has two children and six grandchildren.
How did you meet?
"We met on a ski slope," Grace says. "It was really a dream meeting. I just skied down the mountain and I saw a friend that he was with."
Was it love at first sight?
"I would think so," Grace says. "It was love at first sight for him." She laughs.
What relationship advice would you give other couples?
"Just be prepared to grow up," Grace says. "Getting married is a pretty serious thing to do, whether you're 19 or whether you're 30. There are a lot of things you have to give up and a lot of things to do. I wouldn't recommend getting married at 19 today."
What's your favorite Valentine's Day memory since you became a couple?
"There was one time I got a card I didn't like, it had a gorilla on it," she says with a laugh. "We didn't really get into big things on Valentine's Day. We always had a good relationship, so we really didn't need a day to make it special."
Joan and Thomas Lysik
Seabrook
Married July 16, 2011
Friends since their days at Newburyport High School, the couple saw each other in 2009 at a friend's New Year's Eve party. Tom proposed after the couple had been dating for seven months by whispering, "Will you marry me?" in Joan's ear.
Tom, 40, works at Valspar Corporation in Newburyport and Joan, 40, is a clinical assistant and receptionist at Videyko Chiropractic in Newburyport.
How did you meet?
"I was a 1989 graduate of Newburyport High and Tom was a 1991 graduate," Joan says. "We hadn't seen each other in over 20 years, but reconnected at a friend's house on New Year's Eve."
Was it love at first sight?
"There was definitely an attraction there," Tom says. "We started dating about two months after New Year's."
Do you have a favorite Valentine's Day memory?
"Last year was our first Valentine's Day together," Tom says. "I sent Joan roses, and after work I showed up at her house with teddy bears and candy for her and her daughter, Elizabeth."
"I'm looking forward to making more memories," Joan adds.
Did you have any expectations as to what marriage would be like? Has it lived up to it?
"I wanted someone to share the rest of my life with, through good times and bad," Tom says. "Yes, it has lived up to it."
What's been the biggest surprise about marriage?
"No surprises," Joan says. "Everything has been perfect."
What's been the best part?
"I'm amazed at how much Tom and I have in common and how well we get along," Joan says. "He's my best friend. I couldn't be happier."
What do you think the secret to a long-lasting marriage is?
"Communication," they answer together.
What relationship advice would you give to another couple?
"Share responsibilities and consider your spouse as your equal," Tom says. "Everything is done together, as a partnership ... and never go to bed angry."
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