After 65 years of marriage, Sue Bajish, 89, still has not run out of nice things to say about her husband Myron, 90.
He’s wonderful, I have a very good husband, he spoils me, she said just three days before their wedding anniversary last week.
I love him dearly.
On May 3, the Bajish’s celebrated 65 years together in front of family and friends at the Split Rock Cafe in Westvale.
Though the surprise party was revealed to the couple early, there was still a surprise in store: Rosemary Bajish, Myron and Sue’s daughter-in-law, had arranged for Judge to renew their vows.
We weren’t sure what was going to happen, Michael Bajish, their son, said of their reaction to the surprise.
They took it in stride, though, he said, and after 65 years of marriage, they were married again.
Their story is a romantic one.
Myron and Sue both grew up in the Syracuse area and had been ‘going together’ for years before he enlisted in the Air Force in June of 1941, just a few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
He was stationed in Seattle, Anchorage, and Juno, Alaska, before he was transferred to Baton Roughe, La., communicating with Sue through letters.
In one of those letters, he asked Sue what she would say if he were to ask her to marry him.
Well, she got on a train and came down, Myron said.
I left a note for my mother; ‘Mom, I’m going down to see Myron, Sue said.
Then 24, Sue took the train alone to Baton Rouge.
The ceremony was performed by the Chaplin of Bartow Air Base, their wedding dinner were hamburgers and coffee at a diner.
Two days later, Myron was being transferred again to a base in Florida, so Sue came home to Central New York.
And it stuck, Sue laughed. I had to show my mother the marriage license, she didn’t believe it.
They lived in Florida for 22 years after Myron retired, but returned to live in Westvale in 1955.
I’ve covered a lot of ground in my ninety years, Myron said.
The pair have one child, Michael, his wife, Rosemary, two grandchildren, Michael J. and Emily, and two great-grandchildren, Alex and Morgan.
For Michael, his parents’ lasting marriage is testament to the powers of perseverance.
It’s a real thrill, he said of having them reach this milestone.
It doesn’t happen too often.
They never smoked, never drank, and danced together often.
We’ve had our share of problems, but we managed to iron them out, Myron said. You don’t go off the handle just because we have a problem or two.
All I can say is, just work things out, she said. Always remember to say I love you.
