A couple celebrating more than 70 years together have offered their tips for anyone hoping their relationship can go the distance.
Marilyn and Hank Cydrus married back in 1951 when they were still in their teens. Marilyn was 16 at the time and Hank was 19, and the pair eloped before heading to California to begin their life together.
Not long after, Hank was drafted into the Korean war. When his service ended, the couple chose to settle in Ohio, where they began raising a family.
Over the years, Marilyn and Hank welcomed three children. Their family has since grown to include nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The pair reached a remarkable milestone on March 3, marking 75 years of marriage. Speaking with NBC4, they reflected on the achievement and shared what they believe has helped their marriage last.
For Hank, one of the biggest ingredients in a strong marriage is being a team when it comes to everyday life and major choices. He said: “Being able to share with each other the decisions they need to make, and not argue about money and things like that.”
Marilyn’s advice focused on kindness and perspective, encouraging couples to look for the best in one another. She added: “Do for each other and get along. Don’t try to find something wrong with the other person, try to find the good in them.”
It’s the kind of heartfelt wisdom that hits home.
The couple’s granddaughter, Katrina Robinson, also honored them with a tribute on Facebook for their anniversary, calling them ‘the living example of what it truly means to choose each other every single day’.
“From the summers I spent with you as a child — filled with laughter, life lessons, tear filled talks at the kitchen table, and the comfort of knowing I was deeply loved — to the cherished time I get with you now, your presence in my life has been one of my greatest blessings,” she wrote.
“You didn’t just build a marriage… you built a legacy. A legacy of patience, faith, sacrifice, humor, forgiveness, and enduring love. Watching the way you care for one another, respect one another, and continue to hold hands after 75 years has shaped my understanding of what marriage is meant to be.”
Safe to say, that message struck a chord with plenty of people.
Marilyn and Hank aren’t the only ones who have recently weighed in on what makes a marriage work. Actor Harrison Ford, who has been married to Calista Flockhart for 15 years, also shared a few words while in the spotlight.
Accepting the SAG-AFTRA Lifetime Achievement Award, Ford paid tribute to his wife, saying: “I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to my extraordinary, beautiful wife, Calista. And my family, who have given me love and courage through all of it.”
And when he was asked on the red carpet to reveal the secret behind their relationship, Ford gave a characteristically dry response: “I don’t tell my wife what to do.”
Consider that advice delivered with a wink.