Ken & Marianne Smith

Marianne & Ken Smith

We were married December 19, 1964. Ken was a senior at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA preparing to graduate in June.  I (Marianne) had already graduated from Rider College in Lawrenceville, NJ.  We had been dating for more than a year, but the parents, and probably lots of others, thought it was likely a shot-gun wedding – that I must be pregnant.  But I wasn’t.

After Ken graduated, he moved through several jobs in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and, finally, southern New Jersey.  We had two boys – the last of which was born shortly after Ken quit his job as Assistant to the President of a retailer to start an advertising agency.  That was April of 1971.

After raising the boys and getting them off to college, I joined Ken in the business as Chief Financial Officer, and we still work together today.

Over the years, we built the business to a high of 22 full-time staff members and several $million a year in business – nationwide and international.  We recently transferred the business to one of our senior managers, and have embarked on a number of Internet ventures which are exciting, a source of adventure and, frankly, an escape from the challenges at home. 

While we used to travel quite a bit and had condos in Colorado and Myrtle Beach, SC, today our circumstances dictate that we live a quiet life just across the bay from Ocean City, NJ.  Our two boys are happily married and very successful – and we have four extraordinary grandchildren.

PS:  After 43 years of marriage, Ken and I are also still passionately in love.  Life is good!