Never too old for love in SJ

CHERRY HILL - Some people have trouble just getting a first date, let alone finding someone they would agree to marry twice.

But inside the meeting center of Spring Hills Assisted Living facility Friday afternoon, the words "I do" were echoed by 10 resident senior couples renewing their wedding vows for Valentine's Day weekend.

Mayor Chuck Cahn, who has been married 37 years, was the officiant of the ceremony. He was excited to be the man in charge of renewing the vows.

"To be a part of the celebration is really special. I'm honored to be able to recognize all the years these couples have spent together in front of their friends and family."

Ninety-two-year-old Arthur Seltzer gave his wife, Mildred, 88, a kiss on the cheek after renewing their vows after 65 years of marriage. He looked back on the years and remembered fondly the night he met his future wife at a theater in Philadelphia.

"She was on a date with another guy and I was on a date with another girl that night," he remembered.

"The next morning I spoke to my friend and I said, 'You were with a very nice young lady.' And he said, 'Yes, but I'm not going to be able to see her anymore.' I asked if there was something wrong with her and he said, 'Yeah, she lives in New Jersey and I don't have a car.'"

Seltzer asked his friend for Mildred's phone number and gave her a call. From there, Mildred from Camden, and Arthur from Philly, began dating.

"He was very sweet, very nice and I like that," Mildred said.

When they decided to get married, Mildred wanted Arthur to ask her father for her hand in marriage.

"He said, 'No way, son,'" said Arthur, who the Courier-Post reported earlier this month about his role in World War II. "He told me you either take the whole body or you get nothing! He sure was something else."

Film captures WWII experience of SJ vet

In WWII, Seltzer was a 20-year-old corporal serving as a radio operator in a forward position with the 4th Armored Signal Battalion, shuttling messages back and forth to rear units to military leaders such as Gen. George S. Patton and to Supreme Allied Headquarters. He was one of more than 550,000 U.S. servicemen during the war who were Jewish.

The Seltzers have enjoyed a happy marriage.

"Yes, we have our differences, don't let anybody tell you you don't — you do. But the most important thing is if you can go to bed speaking to each other and happy to each other, that's very important," Arthur said.

Another couple renewing their vows, 85-year-old Robert Maro and his wife, Doris, said it was a fun thing to do for Valentine's Day.

The couple has been married 62 years. They met in an Irish bar in Philly and never looked back. Doris has some words of advice for newlyweds who want a successful marriage.

"Have a sense of humor and be romantic," the 84-year-old woman said.

Eugene Venuto, originally from Broomall, Pennsylvania, had no idea his future wife, Mildred, 87, lived around the corner from him when he was a teen.

The two were destined to meet one way or another. Eugene, 89, worked as an usher at a skating rink when he fell in love with Mildred.

"We met there one night and I knew I'd like to have her as my wife," he said.

"We've been so happy and been getting along so good that we thought it was a great idea to renew our vows," Mildred said.

"We are in love," Eugene added. "To get married, you have to find one like her."

Matt Flowers; (856) 486-2913; mflowers@gannettnj.com