ANNIVERSARY Nikas and Waters
Paul Nikas (left photo #1) and Edward Waters celebrated their 50th anniversary July 12. Nikas is the day manager at Jackhammer.
Photo of the couple in the '80s courtesy of Nikas
WEDDING Perysian and Lewis
Family and friends came from all over the United States on July 7, 2012, to witness a very important day for Michael Perysian and Tony Lewis at the Mayne Stage Theater in Rogers Park. The grooms' nephews proceeded down the aisle armed with bubble guns, followed quickly by the most lovely ring bearer a wedding could dream of, the Lewis' niece Mary Alice Fike. Soon followed the best man and matron of honor of Michael, Mike Damian and Donna Perysian Ekl. Next came Tony's best man and matron of honor, Kary Markey and Tricia Lewis Fike. The last to come down the aisle were the grooms themselves, accompanied by their gorgeous mothers, who joined the grooms' fathers at the front row. With readings by Joe Schenck and Deadra Crowel, songs sung and vows written by the grooms themselves, there were few dry eyes in the theater. After this beautiful profession of love and promise to each other, the grooms kicked off the party by singing a duet of their own (a re-written version of P!nk's "F#cking Perfect).
By the end of the day, Michael Allen Lewis Perysian and Anthony William Perysian Lewis had become husbands, and now continue their amazing future together. In this age of fighting for marriage equality, let us toast these men as they choose to make a life-long commitment to each other. Cheers!
Text and photo by Anthony Meade
ANNIVERSARY Kelley and Ooi
William B. Kelley and Chen Ooi marked their 33d anniversary July 7 during the same week as Chen's 60th and Bill's 70th birthdays.
Photo by Ralph Childs