The first wedding that I ever attended was on May 20, 1972. My aunt Bev was marrying a fellow that she had met at the Catholic Young Person’s Club (CYPC), the same organization in which my parents had met. My future uncle, young Ed Tangeman was attending an outdoor volleyball game in late October of 1971 with his friend Mike Kennedy, a guy who Bev knew through my aunt Diana and my Mom. Bev was there with Mary Stoff (also a friend of my parents) and her ears immediately perked up when she heard that there was a guy there named ‘Ed’ – it seems that the last three guys in whom she had been interested were also named Ed.
She was immediately attracted to both Ed and his dimples, so she hatched the plot to ask Ed to hold her keys while she played volleyball. This ensured that she would have to talk to him again after the game. She continued this routine, using Ed as her official keyholder, and this eventually led to Ed and Mike joining Bev and Mary at the after-CYPC hangout Barnaby’s pizza. Here she found out that Ed was home from California after living there for the past six years while in the Army Reserves. He had noticed Bev during his visit the previous summer and had hoped to ask her out then – but Bev was dating someone at that time.
Bev had just turned 19 when she met Ed and was suprised to find out that Ed was a full ten years older than her. To her relief, her parents didn’t have much issue with her dating an older man – but did warn her that a guy that age would probably want to get really serious really fast. They were right. Bev and Ed started dating in November 1971 and were engaged by Christmas that year.
Bev was also surprised to find out that her parents actually already knew Ed and his family, because Ed was also friends with her cousin Bob Murlin. They told Bev that Ed had actually been to their house eight years earlier when Diana was having her high school graduation party. Bev was eleven at that time and had watched the party proceedings while hiding behind the living room chair. She checked the photos from the party and sure enough, there Ed was – right in their living room.
Bev and Ed – the start of many great years
The beautiful bride
The wedding party that included all of Bev’s siblings: my Mom, Diana, Jim, and Darlene as the flower girl
Bev and Ed’s wedding took place at Ascension and the reception that followed was held at the Union Hall on East Second Street, the same place where Diana and Tom’s and my parents’ receptions had been held. Of course being seven months old, I don’t remember being at the wedding, but I was there. My Mom recalls dancing with me at the reception. I was never to young to boogie.
Grandma and Grandma Murphy dancing at the reception
Tom and Diana hanging out at the reception
I couldn’t find any photos of me at the wedding, but this slide was on the same roll of film – so this may have been my wedding day duds
Bev and Ed took a brief honeymoon at Hueston Woods in Yellow Springs, Ohio for just a few days, and then took a second honeymoon a year later in California. They stayed there for three weeks for a vacation that Bev was convinced would never end. There she saw all of the locations from Ed’s past, and was able to visit Los Angeles, Santa Monaca, and San Francisco.
To date, Bev and Ed have been married for more than thirty-five great years. The last party that they had for the entire extended family was in 1997 at Darlene and Bob’s house, when they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary (25 Great Years!). And it was my pleasure to be there for this event as well and honor them and their exemplary marriage.
Thank you for the remembrance of our wedding. The party in 1997 at Darlene and Bob’s house was a surprise party for our 25th year anniversary. Our kids totally surprised us (which wasn’t too hard to do) by getting us to Darlene’s by giving a dresser of ours to Brittney. We were totally caught off guard. We’ve been very blessed and cherish every moment together.
Bev
December 11th, 2007
When I read Bev & Ed I said to myself “Tangeman”. CYPC has a lot of good memories for me!!! Met and married Mary Tromans (from the Club) & have been married for 43yrs.
Leo Grilliot
September 29th, 2014