Married 54 Years: Barbara & Morgan Barokas
Howie Barokas
What would Barbara do for love? Take two years of summer-school classes if it meant graduating at the same time as high school
sweetheart Morgan, who was two years older. The Bellevue, Washington-based pair, who wed when Barbara was 20 and have six
grandchildren, are still very much in love. “But to us that doesn’t mean being joined at the hip,” says Barbara, 73. An avowed
night owl, she stays up until 2 A.M. reading mysteries, while Morgan, 75, goes to bed early and rises at 4:30 to work out
at the gym.
Photograph by Gillian Laub
Photograph by Gillian Laub
Their Secrets to a Happy Marriage
1“Treasure the little moments. When I go grocery shopping, Morgan always says, ‘Wait! I’ll go with you!’ His companionship
has turned an uninteresting errand into something special. When Morgan was in the hospital last year for kidney problems,
I wandered around Costco by myself, thinking how much I missed him,” says Barbara.
2“Morgan is my ‘calm down’ person, who tells me everything will be OK when I’m not being rational. And I like to think I put
spice and fun into his life that he wouldn’t otherwise have. He thinks I’m nuts!” says Barbara.
3“Communication is a big part of our staying married all these years. But as I get older, not being able to hear so much plays
a big part, too,” says Morgan.
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