Connect How did your love story begin?

Our parents were friends when we were teenagers. One New Year’s Eve night, as we always did, had dinner with our 2 families. At that time I was 21 and Chris was 23. He had just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and I coincidentally had broken up with my longtime boyfriend. He had tickets to see Andrew Dice Clay at Radio City Music Hall that night and was planning on taking his ex. I said forget her, take me. And so he did. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

There are so many but truthfully I think it would have to be the night in 2015 that our daughter turned 16. We threw her a huge party with over 200 people at this fancy catering hall on Long Island! It was a lot of money but she was our only daughter so we did it anyway. It was the happiest night of our lives. 2 years later she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leakemia and on 12/8/21 at the age of 22 she passed away. I was glad she had that party because she couldn’t have her dream wedding.

What would you do with $20,000?

The 5 year anniversary of Sarina’s passing is coming up and we’d like to throw a celebration of life event and fundraiser. She was very passionate about a few charities that helped her during her illness and we’d like it to benefit them. We’re living in Florida currently but would like it to be held in Long Island, we’re her sweet 16 was held. We’d invite all the people who knew and loved her and raise money through raffle prizes and tickets. It will be a huge success and she would love it