We met at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Twenty-and-Over Club on Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on May 2, 1959 (one day after Tony’s 27th birthday)). The date I expected never showed up, so I went to the weekly dance with a girlfriend. When I got off the bus, I asked a young man standing outside the hall, which door to use to enter (that was Tony). He gave me directions and then followed me in. It was a huge hall—two live bands performed, when one took a break, the other took over.
A week after we met, Tony arranged a double date. He had invited a girl he met at a wedding to go out with him, and I was to be his friend’s date; but during the evening we switched partners. The other girl turned out to be a classmate of mine at St. Brendan’s High School. At our fiftieth reunion, I met her again and she was really surprised to learn that I had married Tony.
Our first date was a trip to Idlewild Airport (now JFK) on a Wednesday evening where we had cocktails and watched the planes landing and taking off. Then every Sunday we went to Tony’s Mother’s place for a delicious roast beef dinner with homemade apple pie for dessert. I told his Mom that I didn’t know how to cook, but she said she wasn’t worried because she knew I liked to eat!
We had our first kiss after our second date. I had made it a rule never to kiss on the first, and though Tony was charming, I made no exception. Tony proposed just two months later after a St. John’s University (his alma mater) picnic-style get-together. We parked at a City Gas Tower and he popped the question–what a romantic!
Our engagement lasted fourteen months to give us time to save some money. Since we both lived at home and had steady jobs, we were able to pay off all the wedding expenses and purchase new furniture and appliances for our first apartment. My Mom chipped in $1,000 and let us handle everything, which we were happy to do.
We were married at an 11 AM nuptial Mass at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church on Parkville Avenue. The rear or the church was directly across the street from the apartment I shared with my parents on Newkirk. Tony’s cousin, Father John Ryan, a Redemptorist priest, recently returned from Brazil, officiated. My best friend, Alice, was my Maid of Honor. Three weeks later, I was her Matron of Honor. Her future husband Tom was Tony’s Best Man. A friend from the company glee club sang Ave Maria and was fantastic, but Tony was so oblivious, he didn’t remember hearing her.
At the time I worked for Chase Manhattan Bank and for our reception took the recommendation of one of the senior officers who had recently had his daughter’s wedding at the Original Paul’s Restaurant on East 31st Street and Flatbush Avenue. I also used the official bank photographer and had a three-piece band. It was a small party, about fifty people, but it was wonderful, and everyone had a great time.
Original plans for our honeymoon were to stay at the Blue Water Manor in Lake George. What a disappointment! The cabin had a rusty bathroom with tissues stuck in the screen to keep out the bugs. And to make it worse the mattress squeaked when we sat on it. Despite those ominous signs, we tried the dining room, but although we expressed a desire to dine alone, we were seated with others and the food was terrible. Needless to say we didn’t stay. We returned to our own little love nest apartment and subsequently took overnight trips to Plattsburg, Lake Placid and Montreal.
For our song we chose True Love which Bing Crosby had sung to Grace Kelly in the movie High Society. The words captured the essence of our feelings at the time and have proven true through the decades. Thank you Cole Porter.
Our first attempt at entertaining was a special dinner party for some of Tony’s family. We decided to serve shrimp cocktail as an appetizer. After a first bite, one of the guests asked, “How long did you cook the shrimp?” Cook it? We didn’t realize it was supposed to be served cold but not raw.
In July of 1961 we welcomed our son Michael and in 1962 moved to Dover Delaware where Tony was working for Dupont. We purchased a lovely ranch style home on a cul-de-sac and had frequent spontaneous parties with our neighbors. It was great fun! We also added Frank and Roseann to the family.
Then in 1968 we moved into a newly built four-bedroom colonial in the developing community of East Windsor, NJ, just outside Princeton. Tony established his own financial planning service, and I worked as his secretary/office manager/whatever-you-need-done person and loved it. For a few years the business was run out or our home, so I had to give up some of my beautiful living space; but as Humphreys Financial Services succeeded and outgrew the house, it was moved to a storefront on Main Street in Hightstown. I got my home back and was able to decorate it just the way I wanted—classy and elegant.
We made many friends and continued to enjoy parties and get-togethers, both casual and formal, for any occasion—St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July, whatever—sometimes for no reason at all. We were busy in our parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Hightstown and with our children’s activities.
After my Dad died and my Mom’s health began to fail, she came to live with us and as her mental and physical health deteriorated she had to be placed in a facility. That was a challenging time in our life but with God’s help and by working together, we got through.
We are and always have been a demonstrative couple and one rule is that we share at least three hugs a day, but usually it’s more, accompanied by copious kisses. Affectionately we refer to each other as Mister and Missus Humphreys.
It’s been a wonderful life and we are grateful to God for all the many blessings we’ve received.
Ann and Tony celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a dinner party for family and friends at Forsgate Country Club. Tony sold his tax consulting business in 2011 but continues to serve his financial planning clients who depend upon him for sound, honest guidance and advice. To this day he is active with the Knights of Columbus, Right to Life and various other charitable and philanthropic causes. He lost his beloved Ann after a brief illness on November 22, 2016, but cherishes the memories of the life they shared for fifty- six years and their Love Forever True.