Hingham Lovers Recommend Younger Couples to Be Patient

When Anne Sirkis looks directly into her husband’s eyes at Linden Ponds in Hingham, she still sees the same magic when she first laid eyes on him over 60 years ago, as teenagers at a Sunday brunch at the Harvard Hillel House.

The couple met over bagels.  Anne was a student at the Boston Conservatory of Music while Larry was studying at MIT.

“We hit it off very nicely, and he walked me back over the bridge,” Anne said. 

The two built strong chemistry from their walk from Cambridge to Boston’s Fenway, talking about everything from family and religion to music. They later dated for over three years going to museums and spending time by waterfronts.

“I was a little bit shy in those days, and it was just easy to talk to her where I had trouble talking to other people,” Larry said. “We had many telephone conversations.”

Fast forward 62 years, three children, seven grandchildren and one great grand child later, and the bond between Anne and Larry still remains.

The two now engage in activities at Linden Ponds where they are enjoying a happy retirement together.  But many couples today do not last 62 years like Anne and Larry’s marriage has.  The couple believes people are not as patient.

Anne recommends young couples to start slowly.  

“Life changes in many ways,” she said. “I think you have to really be sure you are so much in love with each other that you would be able to heal all wounds and figure out how to get along.”

She advises middle-aged couples to find ways to work out problems.

“Loads and loads of problems come up, and you may have many disagreements,” she said. “But as long as you can talk them out and figure out how to go on with it, you’ll be OK.”

Larry believes family is the most important in a relationship.

“I really think it’s important to get to know each other’s family,” he said 

 A large smile appeared on his face when he remembers the first time he met Anne’s parents and they approved of him.  While dating, he would impress Anne’s family by giving her mother flowers. 

Today at Linden Ponds nothing sstands in the way of their love, and that is why this Valentine’s Day will be no different than any other day of their 62 years of marriage.

Anne and Larry walk the halls of Linden Ponds comfortably together, just as they did the day they first met.