Minette and Charles Cooper at their wedding on June 22, 1958.
Jewish News: When and where did you meet?
Minette and Charles Cooper: In New York on a blind date through Marjorie Quarte, a senior in Minette’s house at Smith College who was dating Charles’s brother Joel.
JN: Charles, how did you convince Minette to move to Norfolk?
M&C: By Charles’s taking a law job in Norfolk.
JN: What was most memorable about your wedding?
M&C: Four things:
• Minette’s stepsister and Charles’s brother giving him a ½ bottle of scotch to calm Charles’s nerves to get him through the ceremony.
• Minette hiding the car to protect it from Chivaree.
• Minette’s two aunts preparing a meal to take with us. It turned out to be one chicken leg and two olives—so we missed dinner.
• Charles going for a swim the next morning and as he climbed out, they came to clean the pool.
Minette and Charles Cooper dancing at a wedding in 2021.
JN: What advice would you give yourselves of 65 years ago?
M&C: You’re not marrying a person, you’re marrying a family.
JN: What has been your secret to staying together?
M&C: We agree on more things than we disagree on.
JN: Do you have any advice for couples about to wed?
M&C: Put your whole self into it or it won’t work.
JN: Anything else you’d like to add?
M&C: Have fun together.