Couple Reaffirms Vows After 73 Years of Marriage

Talk about ever-lasting love. Ruth and Larry Shifman said “I do,” again, in their 73rd year of marriage at a recent marriage recommitment ceremony in Port Washington.

The New Hyde Park couple were among the more than 50 couples celebrating at the Town of North Hempstead’s sixth annual recommitment ceremony at Harbor Links Clubhouse on Feb. 13.

The secret to a rewarding marriage?

The couple, who married during World War II, shared their insights.

“To love each other, be happy and thank God, healthy,” Ruth said in a Fox News interview in 2012. “You have to be compatible with one another.”

And loyalty is key.

“There’s no competition,” Larry said. “She’s so terrific.”

Officiated by Town Clerk Wayne Wink, this year’s ceremony offered longtime married couples the opportunity to reaffirm their vows to each other and afterwards, enjoy a sumptuous lunch.

“These couples’ relationships have withstood the test of time, and it’s truly special when you get to celebrate that commitment with others in our community,” Town Clerk Wink said, prior to renewing their vows.

“We all know that marriage is not always easy and it takes work, but the rewards are immeasurable,” Supervisor Judi Bosworth said, at the ceremony. “ Many of you have experienced those rewards over the past 50, 60, or even 70 years, which is a testament to your true love for one another.”

The couples renewed their vows at this year’s ceremony despite February’s bitter-cold temperatures.

Also on hand at the ceremony were Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Councilman Peter Zuckerman, Councilman Angelo Ferrara, Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, and Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman.

From left to right, Councilman Angelo Ferrara, Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, Ruth and Larry Shifman (longest married couple in attendance at 73 years), Town Clerk Wayne Wink, Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Councilman Peter Zuckerman.

Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here

More on Patch:

• Long Island Snowfall Totals
• 3 Hurt, 1 Seriously, in LIE Crash Caused by Icy Conditions
• Good News: Former LI Hairdresser Wins $1M, Mickey Mouse Dance Battle, LI Native in ‘American Idol’ Top 24
• LI Crimes: Police Seek Bank Robbers, Man Steals 18 Eyeglass Frames, Guilty Plea in Fatal Crash
• Police: Riverhead Man Drove Drunk With 11-Month-Old Child in Car
• Wow House: 5-Bed, 3.5-Bath E. Patchogue Home With Spectacular Views