From ‘love at first sight’ to ‘till death do us part’
By Cindy Wojdyla Cain ccain@stmedianetwork.com February 13, 2012 9:02PM
David and Marilyn Gregory stand with a photo from their wedding day Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at their home in Joliet, Ill. They have been married for 60 years. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
Updated: March 15, 2012 8:02AM
JOLIET — David Gregory will never forget the moment he saw Marilyn for the first time.
The two were teenagers attending a St. Francis Academy prom in 1947. David and Marilyn both had other dates for the dance. But once David saw Marilyn standing in an archway, that was it.
“She radiated,” he said of his first glance at the woman he would marry. “I said, ‘That’s my girl.’”
But David was shy. He said he was “a little mouse” in high school and never went to dances and didn’t participate in sports. And Marilyn had a boyfriend.
So the two wouldn’t meet again until a year later when a friend suggested Marilyn, who had broken up with her boyfriend by this time, attend to the 1948 senior prom with David.
David was thrilled to be set up with the girl in the archway. The two started dating and two years later, on July 21, 1951, they were married.
But David believes there is more to this story than a simple chance meeting.
While looking at his wife-to-be’s baby book shortly after they started dating, David realized they had both been born on the same date,
Oct. 28, one year apart.
Marilyn’s mom had a Herald-News clipping that showed both David’s and Marilyn’s names in an Oct. 28 “birthday club” listing in the newspaper.
Even though they were only 4 and 3 years old, respectively, it was the first of a series of signs that shows they were meant to be together, David says.
But for the real “411” on this couple, you need to hear about the “404.”
While researching their marriage for a 60th anniversary celebration last summer, David uncovered more signs.
He said they were both born in the same room, Room 404, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. They were married at St. John’s Church at 404 N. Hickory St. in Joliet. David’s grandfather owned a grocery store at 404 N. Bluff St.
Their telephone number ended in 404, and David owned a business at 404 Oneida St.
And David said his firstborn son was born at 4:04 a.m.
The couple went on to have eight sons, 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Their son Paul said life in the Gregory household was “hectic and happy.”
“There was never a dull moment,” he said of the family of 10.
For their anniversary, the couple received restaurant gift cards, including some for the Golden Corral, their favorite spot to get a bite to eat. There wasn’t anything fancy. Just family and fun.
“We’ve got everything,” David said as he sat in the living room of the house he built and has lived in for 57 years.
As for all of the coincidences, the retired construction worker and builder said he doesn’t believe in coincidences.
“It was meant to be,” he said of his relationship with Marilyn.
While being interviewed, Marilyn disputed some of David’s memories and the two bickered a bit about the details of their marriage.
But none of that matters, because it’s an old-fashioned relationship, said son Paul.
“They stuck it out, no matter what,” he said. “And they loved each other, through thick and thin.”
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