By Howard Koplowitz
Couples married for 50 years and longer were honored by state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D−Little Neck) Friday at the SNAP senior center in Queens Village, where they offered their advice on how to take a marriage into the half−century mark.
David and Sophie Berlin, Hilltop Village residents who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July, said avoiding spats over finances have helped them stay together for so long.
“One thing we never argue about is money,” said Sophie, before David interjected: “I didn’t have any.”
David, 93, and Sophie, 90, met through a blind date arranged by Sophie’s grandmother.
“I got her telephone number and called her up and made a date,” David said. “And that was the end of me.”
The couple was married in 1948 — three months after their first date.
“They told me she had a fur coat,” David said. “I thought, ‘Oh boy! She’s loaded. I better marry her.’ Then I found out she had no money at all.”
The couple said they did not have any elaborate plans for Valentine’s Day.
“What am I going to buy her? Another piece of jewelry to give to the grandchildren?” David said.
“We’re beyond all that already,” Sophie said.
Floral Park resident Florence Vartoukian, 72, has been married to her husband Archy, 80, for 52 years.
She said any arguments should be settled before going to sleep in order to have a lasting marriage.
“Never go to bed mad,” she said. “Work everything out and enjoy each other. That means put up with a lot of things, so I give [Archy] a lot of credit.”
Frank Kaminski, 85, who has been with his wife, Stefanie, 84, for 62 years, gave simply advice to newlywed couples.
“Don’t get old,” he said.
The couples were two of seven recognized by Weprin, whom he gave certificates to and boxes of chocolate to the women.
“These couples, in my opinion, really are the true heroes of this world,” the assemblyman said. “Too often, I think, today couple’s take the easy way out.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
