Love story: How he turned her 'we'll see' into a 'yes'

Ed Daniels of Levittown talks about getting to know Jessica Radcliffe, his wife of almost 50 years. 

In the summer of 1971, working as a lifeguard for the Town of Hempstead, I was promoted to the Senior Guard position for Levittown’s nine pools. New job responsibilities took me up to the administrative offices in Levittown Hall, and that’s where I encountered Jessica Radcliffe, who was working there as a secretary.

Jessie was flat-out beautiful, and I found quickly that she was a very nice person, too. We were both the same age, 23. I took every opportunity to talk to her at work. I thought we really hit it off, but when I asked her out, there was hesitation and then the words, “We’ll see.” I didn’t exactly know what that meant, but it sounded an awful lot like "no.”

So, when I asked her why she was so noncommittal, she told me that her co-workers told her I might not be the right fit for her. Luckily, I was eventually able to convince her otherwise, and she invited me out with her parents on their boat for lunch at Fire Island. This was heady stuff for me, and I wondered if Jessie was out of my league. I knew that, before we met, she'd gone on actual dates — dinner and shows — with other guys. Her stepfather was a judge, and I knew there were plenty of up-and-coming young lawyers who wanted to take her out. I was working as a lifeguard and a substitute teacher. I didn’t have much money, and the types of dates I could offer Jessie were definitely not the types of dates she was used to going on.

We would go out on bike rides, take walks and sit on the swings, talking at public parks. Very simple stuff, but love was in the air. Something different was happening here and in a short time our relationship became a steady one.

Summer ended, and I went off to New Orleans to work for an educational company I had committed to before I met Jessie. We kept in touch by writing to each other and talking on the phone. I missed her so much that I quit my New Orleans job and returned home to be with Jessie.

I proposed in April of 1972 on one of our Sunday bike rides. I feared hearing “we’ll see” but this time there was no hesitation. I was thrilled when she gave a firm “yes.”

We were married on Nov. 11, 1972, in the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown. Our reception was held at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho. We honeymooned at the Rocking Horse Ranch in upstate New York and then returned downstate and stayed in Manhattan for a few days, seeing plays, sightseeing and enjoying the New York City nightlife.

It rained heavily on our wedding day, and I’m told rain on a wedding brings good luck. There must be some truth to that as this November 11th, we’ll be married for 50 years.

I am a retired teacher, grades six to 12, from the Smithtown School District and also retired from St. Joseph’s University in Patchogue, where I was part of the Child Study Department. Jessie is retired as a secretary from the Town of Hempstead and as the office manager at Plaza Physical Therapy in Wantagh. We have two children, six grandchildren and a new puppy.

If I could talk to my newlywed self I would say “love your wife every day and count the blessings she brings you."

— With Lynn Petry