Name that Couple’s Secret to Wedded Bliss

Following longstanding AJT tradition, we spotlight some of the city’s most illustrious, fun-loving and influential couples who still hold hands, to find out how they met and the secrets to long-lasting marriage. The average span here is 53.5 years, with Judy and Ron Goldstein marking 65 years of coupling and Doris and Marty Goldstein (no relation) following not far behind at 64. Find out why Clive Bank relishes being referred to as “Sandra’s husband,” why Ron cut up Judy’s charge cards, how Germaine and Bruce Weinstein blew out Christmas, and Adrian Grant’s expertise with bananas. Which photos do you recognize?

Judy and Rod Goldstein
Years married: 65
Wedding: Standard Club Atlanta

 

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How we met: Ron: “We had a blind date to the Lakewood Southeastern Fair. I was 18 and not aware that Judy was only 14; so I was not going to date her anymore. I thought Judy was really sweet, intelligent and beautiful, plus her mom made great coffee ice cream shakes.”

Judy: “Ron was the best-looking boy I had ever seen so I called him for my high school sorority dance.”

Secret to a happy marriage: Judy: “Give and take, a great sense of humor.”

Ron: “Compromise! We had a difficult first year because Judy felt the more charge cards she had, the better the marriage. I felt if she learned to cook more than one course at a time we could work out the rest. We learned to support each other’s goals and live with each other’s idiosyncrasies.”

Doris and Marty Goldstein
Years Married: 64
Wedding: Anshe Sfarad Synagogue, New Orleans

How we met: Marty: “Working in a Jewish camp in Sparta, Tenn., a fellow counselor from Miami Beach invited me to spend my winter break with her. She fixed us up on a blind date. We went out several times during the holiday, including New Year’s Eve. We both returned to school and began corresponding … by U.S. mail of all things. Doris was the first southern girl I met. I was immediately attracted by her looks and personality and realized how much fun it was to spend time with her.”

Doris: “He wasn’t an ordinary ‘Yankee.’ He was polite, soft spoken, easy to talk to and willing to do unusual activities like play trivia to see who was smarter.”

Secret to a happy marriage: Doris: “Respect each other’s opinions. Support each other’s aspirations. Share values of lifestyle, religious practice and dedication to family.”

Marty: “Sharing our goals by supporting each other as we grew and matured and created successful lives and a wonderful extended family.”

Arlene and Bruce Turry
Years married: 60
Wedding: Hampshire House, New York City

How we met: Bruce: “We grew up in Rockville Center, Long Island. I was a little older, so I never knew Arlene in high school, but when I was 15 my cousin visited from Hattiesburg and my date suggested I fix him up with Arlene. I rectified this mistake by marrying her a few days after I turned 22.”

Secret to a happy marriage: Arlene: “Bruce has the unique ability to express his feelings and most importantly, we laugh, share and really enjoy being together. As to separate things we do … our biggest disparity is exercise: ️Bruce walks six miles daily, I walk to the clubhouse to pick up my Amazon orders. I’m a big supporter of our lagging economy.” ️

Bruce: “I have been blessed with being in love with the person I most enjoy being with and who has been the best partner I could’ve chosen to share our lives, adventures and blessings with. I always felt if I only dated beautiful girls, I’d find one who was that and had every-thing else. The best part is the longer we are married, the more we love each other.”

Lynette and Malcolm Joel
Years married: 53
Wedding: Johannesburg, South Africa

How we met: Lynette: “Our families moved into a new neighborhood, I was 12 and Malcolm was 15. The minute I saw him, I said, ‘This is it,’ I fell in love. I set my heart on him and chased him for two years before he acquiesced. I was quite determined to win him over and did everything to run into him and make him pay attention to me. Malcolm was super smart, he was very well respected, and good looking.”

Malcolm: “Lynette was pretty and had a ‘desirable’ family.”

Secret to a happy marriage: Malcolm: “Shalom, peace in the household — respecting one another’s interests and desires even if they differ. Lynette made her own wedding dress!”

Ilene and Adrian Grant
Years married: 50
Wedding: Beth Jacob, Thanksgiving Day

How we met: Adrian: “At a party during the first week Ilene moved to Atlanta. She swept me off my feet. I knew she was a gift from heaven and someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. She is truly an aishes chayil.”

Ilene: “I was immediately attracted because he was outgoing and nice. He wanted to do fun things and push me out of my comfort zone, which was really good for me!”

Secret to a happy marriage: Adrian: “Walk away from arguments and show appreciation. It is important to be a good communicator and listener.”

Ilene: “Being agreeable to his moving lifestyle has kept us happy. And no one makes better tuna salad or buys the best bananas!”

Sandra and Clive Bank
Years married: 45
Wedding: Oxford Road Synagogue, Johannesburg, South Africa

How we met: Clive: “I started dating Sandra when she was 16, and I have only had one love.”

Secret to a happy marriage: Clive: “With children, both parents need to be actively involved with their upbringing. Share all responsibilities, including finances. Have time to yourself to pursue your own interests: Sandra is talented and has the ability to anticipate what people will do and respond accordingly.”

Sandra: “He lost his dad when he met me and loved being a party of my family. That was very important to me. Clive has always pushed me to be my higher self. He was the one encouraging me to go to college. He had a small kitchen built for me in the back of his architectural firm when I wanted to start doing small catering jobs. My mom lived with us. Clive took her to art classes and movies while I ‘worked parties.’ That made me love him even more. It takes a special man to be happy to be introduced as ‘Sandra Bank’s husband.

Miriam and Danny Saul
Years married: 45
Wedding: Beth Jacob

How we met: Danny: “We met through mutual friends and were kind of challenging each other. I was in the Air Force, stationed at Dobbins and thought I was ‘too cool for school!’ Miriam was not impressed, but finally did go out with me. Since we got married on the day of the bi-centennial, we joke that we wanted to hear amazing fireworks on our wedding night and we did! Miriam was a pretty girl from Cuba with a bit of an exotic accent that was very attractive for a ‘good old Southern boy.’ She is bright and relentless and cares deeply about others.”

Miriam: “He was three years older than me and part of ‘old’ Atlanta. He had a beautiful extended family. I was a new immigrant. Danny has never met a stranger; he is the friendliest and kindest man I know!”

Secret to happy marriage: Miriam: “We both know that family comes first; Danny has always been supportive of my passions. We compromise, take in changes, and reinvent ourselves.”

Danny: “Admitting that Miriam may not be right all the time, but she is never wrong! It helps to have a wonderful mother-in-law who always takes my side.”

Germaine and Bruce Weinstein
Years married: 44
Wedding: Rockaway Jewish Center in New York City

How We Met: Germaine: “I was at a friend’s party and I saw him staring, smiling at me from across the room. I was immediately attracted to him. He was handsome and had a great sense of humor. His southern charm and manners really made an impact on me. I knew I wanted to be with him.”

Bruce: “I was visiting a fraternity brother in New York City at a party. Germaine immediately caught my eye. We were together the entire evening, and it was like no one else. Germaine was beautiful with an infectious smile. We talked and laughed the entire evening. She even acted as if she liked my jokes. I knew we were made for each other, and we were married a little over three months later. Germaine has a huge family and there were over 500 people at the wedding. I guess we were the only game in town Christmas night.”

Secret to a happy marriage: Germaine: “Accepting each other for who they are and all their idiosyncrasies. You have to respect and be kind to each other. I feel our love continues to grow stronger every year.”

Bruce: “You have to really work at it every day. This is especially true when kids come along. We always planned date nights so we could have time alone. The real secret however is my just saying, ‘Sure Germaine, I’ll do whatever you want.’”