We met at an Italian wedding in Wethersfield Connecticut in 1965, through a friend who fancied herself a matchmaker. It was Tommy Fazzula’s wedding. It was in the Fall and we were going to go to a Harvest dance. Jim was in a fine mood because he was celebrating since 11:00 that morning. I remember him holding me ever so tenderly in his arms as we slowly danced to Frank Sinatra.

I was smitten. We were married 2 years later in 1967.

In the Fall of 1967, we took a long road trip from Germany, to Denmark, then down to sunny Greece… through the dark and repressed Bulgaria and Yugoslavia… then on to France and Italy. It was a romantic honeymoon traveling through Europe in a bottle green convertible Karmann Ghia, given to us by my parents as a wedding gift instead of having a big wedding.

The three words I would use to describe him: Passion, Disciplined and Loyal.

I saw his passion when I first met him, and we danced together. The disciplined side of Jim came through all those years working in his office, beautifying our yard, and coaching the girl’s travel soccer team. Loyalty stands out after all of the years we have been married and living in the same house, close to his parents and mine.