The Goosenbergs: An Enduring Marriage

There are these couples that after a period of time become two single people. There are those whose marriage ends up as another way to fight loneliness. And then, there are the others; those couples whose marriage is a living fairytale. One of them is the Goosenbergs.

An Enduring Marriage

In 1935, 102-year old Maury Goosenberg and his 100-year old wife, Helen, fell in love but after the obstacles their families put in their way, they had no other solution but to elope. Now, the couple that today resides in Carlsbad's La Costa Glen retirement community has won a national contest for having one of the longest-lasting marriages in the US. A marriage of inspiration.

"Everyone told us it wouldn’t last. Now there’s no one left alive for me to
16-year-old Helen Berkowitz was charmed by 18-year old's, Maury Goosenberg, smile and he was dazzled by her beauty.

However, despite the attraction, Maury's success with women was the reason why Helen's parents didn't want their beloved daughter to get involved with him. Helen, on the other hand, was determined: She wanted Maury only for herself and she was ready to fight for it. After a year of dating, she did it.

The early 1930s Depression nevertheless had other plans. Maury spent months looking for a job to provide for his wife and, eventually, he found one as a truck driver while Helen started working at an office 70 miles away. Four years after they met, Helen convinced Maury to elope and they got married in Maryland. Despite the obstacles, such as Helen being underage or the couple's failure to afford a photographer, in September 1935, the couple got married and a happy life was just around the corner. On December 31, the couple held a wedding celebration with the help of their families who decided to support their children's decision to spend the rest of their lives with each