Skip and Ann Costa got married on Valentine’s Day in 1948. Sixty-five years later their love is going strong.
Skip turned 90 in December. Ann will be 88 in April.
They met at the University of Georgia. “I was instantly attracted to him,” Ann Costa said. “I thought he was nice looking, polite and definitely a Southern gentleman.”
“We hit it off instantly. I thought she was a mighty pretty girl,” added Skip, as they sat together in the living room of their tidy, ranch house in the Briarcliff Woods community of Atlanta where they’ve lived since 1962.
“I had him fooled,” Ann Costa said, smiling up at her husband.
They shared their view of what makes a long lasting love relationship.
“I learned earlier on, to say ‘yes, dear’” Skip joked. “That kept it going.”
Ann laughed, then became serious: “You have to love each other, respect each other, learn to compromise,” Ann said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever gone to bed mad,” Skip added.
“Maybe you didn’t,” Ann said with a teasing laugh.
Skip and Ann Costa met on campus at UGA. “We started talking outside of class one day. Then we went on into the building together, and we’ve been together just about ever since,” Skip said. Ann graduated with a degree in business administration. His degree is in finance.
After dating for a year, he asked her to marry him. “In October 1947, I gave her a ring.” Sixty-five years later, they don’t recall every detail of the proposal. “I know I didn’t get down on one knee,” Skip said with a smile.
They decided on a February wedding. And figured, why not on Valentine’s Day?
Their wedding was at Cathedral of Christ the King Church. “She looked beautiful,” recalled Skip, his ever-present smile brightening.
The couple began their life together by having their first child and moving to Miami where Skip had landed a job. Ann stayed at home with their son. After a year, they moved for work to St. Augustine, Fla. In July 1951, they returned to Atlanta — now with two children — after Skip landed a job at an office furnishings business called Carithers Wallace Courtenay, now CWC. When he mentioned he retired from that company after 34 1/2 years, his wife spoke up: “My husband started out in the stockroom and ended up chairman of the board. I am very proud of him.”
After he retired, the couple traveled together, visiting 35 countries on six continents. When they were home, he made sure to help out around the house as much as he could, added Skip.
They both said that learning to compromise was key to their long relationship.
“You’ve got to give more than you take,” Skip said.
“You accept that things can’t always go your way,” added Ann.
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