Story Archive

Kids These Days

Alvin Mann of Cuddebackville, N.Y., was working out in the local gym when “A mutual friend said to me, ‘I’d like you to meet a very nice young lady’,” he says. Mann, who graduated college last year, was smitten with Gertrude Mokotoff, even though she’s five years older than he is. “I kept getting teased about dating a cougar,” Mann laughed, “but the age difference never really bothered me because we just hit it off, and I wasn’t about to let her go.” The feeling was mutual: “I asked him to marry me,” she said. “I was tired of chasing after him.” Her oldest daughter was her maid of honor; his son was his best man. Both children are 71 years old; Alvin is 94, and Gertrude will turn 99 next week. They attribute their long life to “medical science” and lack of worry. (RC/New York Times) ...He didn’t necessarily want to get married, it was more that he “had to” marry her.