Fred and Elaine Kiesner, who have lived in Piñon Pines for 43 years, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows on July 20, 2014. This is Fred’s account of the event.

We gathered at the Chapel at Loyola Marymount University where I taught for 40 years. Elaine and I met on a blind date in Chicago in March of 1961 when I picked her up in a yellow 1950 Studebaker convertible—with the top down in below-freezing weather.

What a first impression!

I really swept her off her feet by wearing a bright red vest on that date. I wore the same red vest at the 50th renewal of vows ceremony.

From the moment I met Elaine, it was love at first sight and I never dated another girl. She ain’t talking about other guys in her life.

We were married in 1964 in Pleasant Hill, California on July 18, 1964 and renewed our vows again in July of 1989 while living in Limerick, Ireland where I was teaching.

What a beautiful life we have had together! —Fred Kiesner

Photo caption:

Above, At Loyola Marymount University Chapel for their 50th anniversary reading of their vows, Fred Kiesner is standing fourth from the left in the middle row and Elaine is third from the right wearing a white smock. Below, Elaine and Fred at their wedding on July 18, 1964 in Pleasant Hill, California.

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This is part of the August 1, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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