Thursday, March 5, 2009

Lifelong Love in Howard Beach (and Ozone Park) - Queens Chronicle

Read original...

(Photo Courtesy of Barbara Reynolds)

Last Friday, Lorraine and Leonard Rich, lifelong residents of south Queens, celebrated their 65th anniversary. She’s 83 and he’s 85.

The pair, who were married in 1944 in Our Lady of Grace Church, grew up in Hamilton Beach around the corner from one another.

Soon after they met and married, Leonard was drafted into World War II and sent to Germany. He suffered an injury several months after his arrival there and was flown back to his anxiously awaiting wife. They haven’t left each other’s side since, according to their daughter, Barbara Reynolds.

“They don’t go anywhere without one another,” Barbara said. “It is truly beautiful and rare to see kind of love in this difficult world that we live in.”

The Richs raised six children in Ozone Park and now have 19 grandchildren. Their children, Barbara, Linda, Virginia, Nancy, Larry and Billy wish them a happy anniversary.