Husband and Wife, Both 96, Share the Simple Secret to Their 75-Year Marriage

A California couple closed out the year by marking an extraordinary milestone: their 75th wedding anniversary.

On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Eloise and Calvin Rogers, both 96, celebrated their anniversary at the Cogir Senior Living Community, surrounded by their son, Jay Rogers, along with friends and family, according to The Press Democrat.

“Seventy-five is special. We’re very happy to be here,” Calvin told the outlet. The celebration featured a bottle of champagne and a pink-and-white cake topped with candles shaped like the numbers seven and five.

For Eloise and Calvin, who married at 21 after meeting in the library at the University of New Mexico — where Eloise studied art and Calvin studied mathematics — the secret to a lasting marriage is refreshingly simple.

The couple shared with The Press Democrat that they focus on taking life one day at a time.

“We met each other in the library and we kept meeting each other after that,” Eloise recalled, describing a love that has remained steady and uncomplicated over the decades.

Their affection is visible in the smallest daily moments. “Every night they kiss good night to each other, and every morning they kiss good morning,” said Norma Alvarez, the Health and Wellness Director at Cogir, speaking to The Press Democrat.

Alvarez added that the couple was recently voted Valentine’s King and Queen at the senior living community — an honor decided by both staff and residents.

“They were nominated by almost all the staff and almost all the residents because we all see the love,” she said.