The Goosenbergs: An Enduring Marriage
There are these couples that after a period of time become two single people. There are those whose marriage ends up as another way to fight loneliness. And then, there are the others; those couples whose marriage is a living fairytale. One of them is the Goosenbergs.
An Enduring Marriage
In 1935, 102-year old Maury Goosenberg and his 100-year old wife, Helen, fell in love but after the obstacles their families put in their way, they had no other solution but to elope. Now, the couple that today resides in Carlsbad's La Costa Glen retirement community has won a national contest for having one of the longest-lasting marriages in the US. A marriage of inspiration.
"Everyone told us it wouldn’t last. Now there’s no one left alive for me to …show more content…
say 'See? I told you so,'" Maury Goosenberg said jokingly about his marriage. His wife clarifies there is no such thing as a big secret to a happy, enduring marriage: "We just appreciate each other," she says.
As for the disagreements, Maury says that a couple can always work things out "equitably, honestly and fairly."
The Goosenbergs Story
The couple got married in 1935, but their story goes back to 1931 when Maury and Helen met at a Halloween party in Philadelphia.
16-year-old Helen Berkowitz was charmed by 18-year old's, Maury Goosenberg, smile and he was dazzled by her beauty.
However, despite the attraction, Maury's success with women was the reason why Helen's parents didn't want their beloved daughter to get involved with him. Helen, on the other hand, was determined: She wanted Maury only for herself and she was ready to fight for it. After a year of dating, she did it.
The early 1930s Depression nevertheless had other plans. Maury spent months looking for a job to provide for his wife and, eventually, he found one as a truck driver while Helen started working at an office 70 miles away. Four years after they met, Helen convinced Maury to elope and they got married in Maryland. Despite the obstacles, such as Helen being underage or the couple's failure to afford a photographer, in September 1935, the couple got married and a happy life was just around the corner. On December 31, the couple held a wedding celebration with the help of their families who decided to support their children's decision to spend the rest of their lives with each
other.
After World War II, the Goosenbergs opened a Chrysler dealership. Some years later, an insurance business and, after that, they moved into estate planning. However, prosperity could not save their son, Jerry, who gave them four grandchildren before he passed away from cancer at 36. Dorothy Omens, Jerry Goosenberg's widow, says that her in-laws were "inseparable, and they only had eyes for each other, to the point that Jerry said that even he felt excluded sometimes."
More Stories of Inspiration
On Valentine's Day, the Goosenbergs attended a celebration hosted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter as guests of honor to accept the winning award of the "2016 Longest-Married Couple" contest, among 250 nominations from around the US. In fact, this is one of the reasons why we cannot deem the couple as the longest-married one in the country, but the longest-married of the 250 who submitted. Actually, John and Anna Betar of Connecticut have been identified by the Union Tribune as the nationwide leader at 83 years.
Today, the Goosenbergs still enjoy spending time together, loving the same people they met 85 years ago. As Maury says, "Helen is the same outstanding individual she was when I was first attracted to her."
An Enduring Marriage
In 1935, 102-year old Maury Goosenberg and his 100-year old wife, Helen, fell in love but after the obstacles their families put in their way, they had no other solution but to elope. Now, the couple that today resides in Carlsbad's La Costa Glen retirement community has won a national contest for having one of the longest-lasting marriages in the US. A marriage of inspiration.
"Everyone told us it wouldn’t last. Now there’s no one left alive for me to …show more content…
say 'See? I told you so,'" Maury Goosenberg said jokingly about his marriage. His wife clarifies there is no such thing as a big secret to a happy, enduring marriage: "We just appreciate each other," she says.
As for the disagreements, Maury says that a couple can always work things out "equitably, honestly and fairly."
The Goosenbergs Story
The couple got married in 1935, but their story goes back to 1931 when Maury and Helen met at a Halloween party in Philadelphia.
16-year-old Helen Berkowitz was charmed by 18-year old's, Maury Goosenberg, smile and he was dazzled by her beauty.
However, despite the attraction, Maury's success with women was the reason why Helen's parents didn't want their beloved daughter to get involved with him. Helen, on the other hand, was determined: She wanted Maury only for herself and she was ready to fight for it. After a year of dating, she did it.
The early 1930s Depression nevertheless had other plans. Maury spent months looking for a job to provide for his wife and, eventually, he found one as a truck driver while Helen started working at an office 70 miles away. Four years after they met, Helen convinced Maury to elope and they got married in Maryland. Despite the obstacles, such as Helen being underage or the couple's failure to afford a photographer, in September 1935, the couple got married and a happy life was just around the corner. On December 31, the couple held a wedding celebration with the help of their families who decided to support their children's decision to spend the rest of their lives with each
other.
After World War II, the Goosenbergs opened a Chrysler dealership. Some years later, an insurance business and, after that, they moved into estate planning. However, prosperity could not save their son, Jerry, who gave them four grandchildren before he passed away from cancer at 36. Dorothy Omens, Jerry Goosenberg's widow, says that her in-laws were "inseparable, and they only had eyes for each other, to the point that Jerry said that even he felt excluded sometimes."
More Stories of Inspiration
On Valentine's Day, the Goosenbergs attended a celebration hosted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter as guests of honor to accept the winning award of the "2016 Longest-Married Couple" contest, among 250 nominations from around the US. In fact, this is one of the reasons why we cannot deem the couple as the longest-married one in the country, but the longest-married of the 250 who submitted. Actually, John and Anna Betar of Connecticut have been identified by the Union Tribune as the nationwide leader at 83 years.
Today, the Goosenbergs still enjoy spending time together, loving the same people they met 85 years ago. As Maury says, "Helen is the same outstanding individual she was when I was first attracted to her."