Ann was 17, born to Syrian immigrants. John was 21, and the two grew up in the same neighborhood. The two became friends in high school when he would pick her up and take her to their Connecticut school. Ann’s parents nearly thwarted the blossoming romance her father had planned to arrange a marriage for her to someone 20 years her senior.
Refusing to give up on love, John and Ann ran away to New York City. Ann’s father lamented, but a family member consoled him by saying young love wouldn’t last. The lovebirds eloped in 1932 and watched the world go through incredible transformations, from the Great Depression to World War II, from the golden age of radio to TV to smart phones
On November 24, 2013, John and Ann celebrated their 81stwedding anniversary. The couple have created quite the brood.Their five children birthed them 14 grandchildren who had 16 great-grandchildren. John, 102, and Ann, 98, are the longest married couple in the United States of America.