We first met on October 30, 1965 - she was 15 years old and he was 18. There was a dance at a community center in Encino, California that evening. Halloween spirits were in the air! We danced for the first time and ended up exchanging phone numbers by the end of the evening.
Over the next 5 years we dated on and off (mostly on) and got married on August 16, 1970. Two weeks after the wedding we packed our VW van and moved to Arcata, California where California State University, Humboldt had accepted Frederick for his Junior Year. So much of our early life together was serendipitously created due to chance, living in the moment and being at the right place at the right time. What followed was always adventurous.
It was a hot and somewhat smoggy day. Our wedding was held at the Castaway Restaurant located in the hills above Burbank CA and our wedding had recently been rescheduled from 1 PM to 11:30 AM having to do with a last-minute schedule change by one of the Officiants. On the way to the wedding, the police had a check point where they inspected automobiles for emission control concerns. Frederick was able to talk the officer out of inspecting our VW van when he told them he was on the way to getting married.
The Pesso family had been planning this event for many months and we were excited to finally see this day arrive. A Rabbi and a Lutheran minister jointly officiated the ceremony. They took turns speaking and at the end of the ceremony they both pronounced us husband and wife at the same time. It was a great ceremony! Everything went as according to plan in spite of the last-minute changes and traffic inspections.
The day went by quickly and we had a great party. After the wedding we went to the Century Plaza Hotel in Downtown LA where we spent the evening as a married couple! Our future life together was now under way!
Joanne grew up in New York City and Long Island New York. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 12 years old.
Frederick grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and graduated High School as a science major. He had no specific plans other than graduate from a University. The future would reveal itself in time. Everything was possible.
In 1972, after graduating from Humboldt, we moved to St. Louis and Frederick enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at Washington University. Joanne began taking college classes during this time and worked to support our simple and happy lifestyle.
In December of 1973, with MSW in hand, we moved to Richland Washington and Frederick began working at the Mid-Columbia Mental Health center. Joanne attended college in Pasco Washington during this time. In 1975, Joanne was accepted into the Occupational Therapy program at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. We moved to Tacoma and Frederick began working at Good Samaritan Mental Health in Puyallup Washington.
Over the next 28 years Frederick worked in the Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Dieringer and Renton school districts. He retired (for the first time) in 2006. Post retirement in 2009, he took a position with the School Social Work Association of America, a 6-year odyssey.
After completing her national board certification and license to practice occupational therapy in Washington State, Joanne worked for the State of Washington Labor and Industries and later, at Rainier School, a residential school for people with disabilities, and as a therapist in the Tacoma School District. She later began her private practice and worked in the Sumner School District as an occupational therapist where she met colleagues who shared her passion for technology. Together they created a school based assistive technology team to support the technology needs of students with disabilities. She retired in 2015 as a school district employee.
Our lives pleasantly changed when Katherine was born in 1983 and when Eric was born in 1986. The years with them growing up and developing their own individual selves, were wonderful and amazing. Both graduated from Washington State University and are working in the Seattle area. They have their own homes now and married wonderful partners whom we enjoy and admire greatly.
Our Lake Tapps area home, which we had built in 1979, has been remodeled at least 5 times and feels like it will be an ongoing project. The house and wooded property continue to work great for us and our lifestyle. These days (in the time of Covid) we enjoy staying home and gardening, reading, walking, and having video chats with friends and family.
We look forward to a time when future travels to interesting destinations can safely resume. Over the years we have explored Aruba, Barbados, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Tahiti, Samoa, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Nicaragua, the Virgin Islands and more. Frederick also went to Ghana, China and Mongolia for work related travel.
A sweeping view of the Columbia River Gorge was the backdrop for Kristen & Eric’s ceremony, which was held on the rooftop of the Cave B Cavern Rooms. Their ceremony was especially touching as Joanne’s Brother Ken officiated and Frederick also shared very meaningful words with them. As Kristen & Eric stood before their family and friends and exchanged their vows, you could see the joy on both of their faces…and as they were pronounced husband and wife, a huge cheer from everyone, and then the party began!
Kristen & Eric’s reception was held on The Piazza at Cave B, which features a grapevine trellis bordered lawn. It looked like a scene straight out of A Midsummer’s Night Dream!
Once the cake was cut and special dances danced, an all out dance party ensued, Kristen & Eric’s friends sure know how to have a good time! As the evening came to an end, Kristen & Eric made their exit through a tunnel of sparklers with their guests cheering! It was the perfect way to put a bow on this wedding which was such a celebration of their love!
Katherine and Amani, from Seattle, knew that Vancouver was the destination for their wedding. They fell in love with the beauty of the mountains and the water. They wanted a venue that would showcase their favorite city. With floor to ceiling views of the north shore, water and mountains they knew the Vancouver Convention Center was the venue for them.
As guests arrived they were handed glasses of champagne. Music filled the room as guests mingled before the ceremony. Frederick walked her down the aisle as Amani anxiously waited. The ceremony was so beautiful and completely personalized to the couple; their guests were talking about it for weeks.
Katherine and Amani had their first dance sung live by their DJ and indoor sparklers went off behind them. After their first dance, the couple surprised their guests with a dance performance getting guests rearing to dance!
After their full evening with dancing and celebrations, the night ended with a sparkler send off on the Convention Center Patio.
We do not miss work although both of us have special and very wonderful memories of our working days and colleagues that we continue to cherish. In her retirement, Joanne has become a political activist volunteering with several Democratic organizations and candidates throughout the country.
Our personal focus now is on expanding our leisure interests and keeping in touch with family and longtime close friends, whom we have known and shared in life adventures. It is as if many of us are all traveling through life together with College, Careers, Children and Covid. So much in common!
Looking back at the half century just completed, it has been a wonderful journey. Our family, friends and colleagues have all played a part in that journey with us, we appreciate you!
Certainly, more adventures await!
Love, Joanne and Frederick