YIR: Couples Share the Art of Laughing & Forgiving

As an Atlanta Jewish Times tradition, couples take a look back at the “crazy glue” that binds them so sweetly together. Looking at decades, the average wedded bliss of the nine couples spotlighted here is 57 years, with legendary businessman “Turtle” Al and Renay Levensen at 63 years.

Not far behind, Sheila and Allan Bleich at 62 years, found that spark because she thought he looked good in his intern scrubs, never mind that she hadn’t washed her hair in a month. Mark Lichtenstein thought Brenda looked like a Swedish maiden, yet his future father-in-law had to give him an ultimatum. The Weinroths bonded over flying a kite; and Arthur Bodner laid down his coat in the snow for Rita before he shipped out to Korea. Ask Arthur Silver and Sydney Tourial if older guys have the edge.

The questions posed to our subjects were: years married, how you met, place of wedding, what the initial attraction was, and, ultimately, their secrets to a happy marriage.

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The nine couples featured were: Renay and Al Levensen (63 years); Sheila and Dr. Allen Bleich (62 years); Susan and Dr. Sidney Tourial (59 years); Barbara and Mark Lichtenstein (58 years); Carla and Dr. Arthur Silver (58 years); Elaine and Dr. Jerry Blumenthal (55 years); Rita and Dr. Arthur Bodner (55 years); Linda and Michael Weinroth (54 years); and Esti and Dr. Rick Blue (50 years).