( continued ...)

Annie Mirelez and Sal Tomasello had their first date when they were high school freshmen . “ There was a carnival on Railroad Street … and I was riding my bike over to the carnival and gave her a ride on the handlebars ,” Sal said . “ She was beautiful …. we knew there was a connection .”

That connection has remained over the past fifty-two years , as has their connection to family – their children , Melissa , and Mark , three grandchildren , and two great grandchildren .

Annie credits hard work to the success of their marriage . “ Marriage is a job you work at every single day , and when you start forgetting to work at it that ’ s when you start having problems ,” she said .

For Sal , marriage is a lifelong commitment . “ And you agree to that , and you work to make it a lifelong commitment , whatever needs to be done , and we ’ re willing to do that ,” Sal said .

The couple credits their faith as a key element in their marriage . “ My faith is what really got me through any tough time whether it was a difficult time between us , or with our family ,” Sal said .

“ To me , my faith , to this day , helps me get through rough times ,” Annie added .

Sal credits Annie as the anchor of the family . “ She has been THE individual that has been my rock , my support , for whatever I wanted to do or been involved with ,” Sal said . “ She has , and always is there .”

And Sal is Annie ’ s rock . After the loss of her two siblings Sal provided his wife the time she needed to grieve , and when she reached out for his support , he was there . “ When I ’ d wake up in the middle of the night ... he would just hold me .”

“... make it a lifelong commitment , whatever needs to be done , and we ’ re willing to do that ,”

34 WINTER 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com