Valentine’s Day Spotlight: Love has no age limit series

PITTSBURGH - Feb. 13, 2014 - PRLog -- A job brought Casimir and Fannie Stempkowski together nearly 70 years ago.

     Their love and commitment to one another remains strong as the couple spends their “golden” years at The Residence at Willow Lane, a senior living community in McKees Rocks.

     Casimir, age 92, and Fannie, 85, have been married more than 66 years. They first met while each worked at the former Pittsburgh Screw and Bolt Company on Neville Island. Cas was a lathe operator, and Fannie served as a shipping clerk.

     “They were friends first. He didn’t ask her out for a date right away,” said Phyllis Stern, Director of Sales and Move Ins at The Residence at Willow Lane. “Fannie had a friend who liked Cas and asked Fannie to set up a date with him. Cas said he wasn’t interested in the friend and instead asked Fannie out. He had to ask several times before Fannie said yes.”

     Stern has spoken to the Stempkowskis many times. She’s heard the touching stories of how the couple met, fell in love and spent decades together before moving to The Residence at Willow Lane. She asked both Cas and Fannie to talk about their relationship as Valentine’s Day approached this month.

     “Their first date was a movie, but Fannie can’t remember what it was,” Stern said. “She said she liked Cas’ eyes because they were ‘truthful.’”

     Cas asked Fannie’s mother for her hand in marriage because “like a good Italian family, the Mom was the boss.” The couple married at Our Mother of Sorrows Church and had a honeymoon at Lake Erie.

     Cas retired from Pittsburgh Screw and Bolt at age 62. Fannie retired from Ames Department Store as a jewelry manager when she was 60. They are proud of their two successful sons, Lou and Dan, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. “They loved raising their children together,” Stern said. “Fannie says Cas was a super Dad.”

     Every year, Cas would give Fannie flowers on Valentine’s Day and always took her out to dinner. Over the years, the couple traveled frequently, with Fannie’s favorite trip being a visit to St. Bart’s, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.

     Cas still is a romantic. When asked how much he loves Fannie, he wrapped his arms around himself and said, “Two armloads full. That’s a lot.”

For more information, contact Phyllis Stern, Director of Sales and Move Ins, The Residence at Willow Lane, at 412.331.6139 or pstern@integracare.com.