Five of our favorite Valley couples reveal what they adore most about each other, in their own words.
Dana Lyon and Scott Fey
Since meeting 23 years ago in San Francisco, Lyon, of Palm Design Group and Fey, who works in commercial real estate, have been on top of the world— whether it be via the Golden Gate Bridge or Moroccan mountaintops.
She Says:
My favorite thing about my husband is his kind heart toward so many people.
My favorite date we’ve been on is a dinner we had in Morocco. It was at a hotel in the Atlas Mountain, and the food and atmosphere were outstanding. It was such is a romantic setting.
I was attracted to my husband’s manners toward all women when we first met.
My husband’s tenacity and joie de vivre is very admirable.
I would love to treat my husband to a safari in Africa.
I wish continued great health and basketball forever for my husband.
James Bond reminds me of myhusband for his love of adventure and fearlessness.
Our key to love and happiness is we genuinely care for each other.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my husband to know even though we have been at the top and bottom of so many mountains, he is always at the top to me.
He Says:
My favorite thing about my wife is her ability to be direct and honest.
My favorite date we’ve been on is at the bar in Taj Campton Place in San Francisco for Champagne and caviar. A real treat!
I was attracted to my wife’s baseball cap (it was raining really hard and she came to help me find an apartment in San Francisco) when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my wife is an engraved vintage gold watch she found for an anniversary.
My wife’s ability to read people is very admirable.
I would love to treat my wife to a trip around the world.
I wish my wife a lifetime of laughter.
Katherine Hepburn reminds me of my wife.
Our key to love and happiness is our ability to reconnect and our love of family.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my wife to know that I will always love her.
Dr. Tara Brodkin and John Buneta Dr. Brodkin
A local OB/GYN, and Buneta dated for several years in New York City before they parted ways (he is retired from the New York Fire Department). After the passing of Dr. Brodkin’s husband, the two eventually reconnected and are now enjoying family life with the doctor’s three children.
He Says:
My favorite thing about my girlfriend is how wonderful she is as a person.
My favorite date we’ve been on is our first date when we walked around NYC for hours getting to know each other.
I was attracted to my girlfriend’s cuteness factor when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my girlfriend is her love.
My girlfriend’s work ethic is very admirable.
I would love to treat my girlfriend to a romantic getaway in Croatia.
I wish every day is a perfect day for my girlfriend.
The song “True Companion” reminds me of my girlfriend.
Our key to love and happiness is communicating and spending quality time together.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my girlfriend to know how much I love her.
She Says:
My favorite thing about my boyfriend is how he makes my heart smile every day.
My favorite date we’ve been on is walking in New York City for hours.
I was attracted to my boyfriend’s eyes and smile when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my boyfriend is his gift of unconditional love.
My boyfriend’s devotion to our family is very admirable.
I would love to treat my boyfriend to a trip to Croatia.
I wish happiness and success for my boyfriend.
The song “(You Want to) Make a Memory” by Bon Jovi reminds me of my boyfriend.
Our key to love and happiness is communication and respect.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my boyfriend to know just how much I love him!
Becky Bartness and Dennis Wilenchik
The couple are partners in law in more ways than one: as the founders of Phoenix’s Wilenchik and Bartness legal firm and since tying the knot in 1978. (They are also the parents of Caitlin Wilenchik, AFM’s 2012 Face of Foothills winner.)
She Says:
My favorite thing about my husband is his sense of humor.
My favorite date was the time he made dinner for my birthday.
I was attracted to my husband’s energy level when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my husband is the gift of listening.
My husband’s character is very admirable.
I would love to treat my husband to a meditation retreat. (He would need some urging to go, but he needs to learn how to slow down!)
I wish peace and contentment for my husband.
No one reminds me of my husband. He is totally unique.
Our key to love and happiness is giving each other enough space to grow.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my husband to know I love him!
He Says:
My favorite thing about my wife is her amazing resiliency and courage in the face of a life-threatening challenge.
My favorite date we’ve been on is at a little Italian restaurant in Houston close to 40 years ago when I first met her.
I was attracted to my wife’s mature manner when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my wife is a bronze hand-cast of Abraham Lincoln. My kids are a close second.
My wife’s figure is very admirable.
I would love to treat my wife to many more years of life as she is about to receive a kidney transplant [in March].
I wish a safe operation for my wife, and son, who is a donor.
Job, from the bible, reminds me of my wife.
Our key to love and happiness is forever reinventing our relationship, marital trust and forgiveness (mostly by her).
This Valentine’s Day, I want my wife to know that love means never having to say you are sorry.
Sarah Bowers and Tommy Constantine
After a whirlwind romance that started in January 2007, race car driver Constantine and Bowers, a model, were engaged in Sedona this past fall.
She Says:
My favorite thing about my fiancé is his loyalty.
I was attracted to my fiancé’s smile and muscles when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my fiancé is a tie between my Aston Martin and my engagement ring.
My fiancé’s journey to his success is very admirable.
I would love to treat my fiancé to a vacation with no work.
I wish a lifetime of love, happiness and success for my fiancé.
80’s music and Diet Coke remind me of my fiancé.
Our key to love and happiness is never taking each other for granted.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my fiancé to know that I am the luckiest woman in the world.
He Says:
My favorite thing about my fiancée is her genuinely sweet and loving personality—plus, she’s super hot.
My favorite date we’ve been on is, there are so many, but Sedona, Cabo and Vegas are always fun.
The best gift I’ve received from my fiancée is her and her son, Gavin, coming into my life.
My fiancée’s love and dedication as a mother is very admirable.
I would love to treat my fiancée to a week at the Four Seasons in Maui.
I wish for a future of love, peace and quality of life for my fiancée.
Juicy Couture reminds me of my fiancée.
Our key to love and happiness is communication and her tolerance for my work ethic!
This Valentine’s Day, I want my fiancée to know that I love her and that she is the difference between my success and failure.
Pam and Dick Nenaber
Pam, CEO of Banner Gateway Medical Center and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dick, a local insurance executive, are about to celebrate 30 years of marriage.
She Says:
My favorite thing about my husband is his sense of humor.
I was attracted to my husband’s adventuresome spirit when we first met.
The best gift I’ve received from my husband is—it’s corny, but it’s got to be our kids.
I would love to treat my husband to a romantic trip to Greece for our 30th wedding anniversary.
I wish a long and happy life for my husband.
Our key to love and happiness is talking, listening, understanding and appreciation.
He Says:
My favorite thing about my wife is her shoes!
My favorite date we’ve been on is a camping trip where anything that could go wrong did— from the car dying in the middle of nowhere, to no food, inclement weather and weird animals. We had to be rescued by my father.
My wife’s family values are very admirable.
Our kids, with unique and characteristic traits of each of us in their personalities and behaviors (which is so fun to see when they are adults), remind me of my wife.
This Valentine’s Day, I want my wife to know this really is forever.
