Cynthia Riggs and Howard Attebery were married Saturday before a crowd of family, friends and well-wishers in the West Tisbury Congregational Church, adding a long-awaited chapter to a love story that has captured hearts and imaginations around the country.
Cynthia Riggs and Howard Attebery were married Saturday before a crowd of family, friends and well-wishers in the West Tisbury Congregational Church, adding a long-awaited chapter to a love story that has captured hearts and imaginations around the country.
Ms. Riggs is 81; Mr. Attebery is 91.
They reconnected a year and a half ago, 60 years after they first met, fell in love again and decided to marry.
Exchanging vows at West Tisbury Congregational Church Saturday.
Exchanging vows at West Tisbury Congregational Church Saturday.
The story has been told in the Gazette, on National Public Radio's Moth Radio hour and other media outlets.
On Saturday the couple exchanged vows before the Rev. Arlene Bodge in the classic spired New England church that sits in the heart of the village that has been home to Ms. Riggs's family for more than two centuries.
“They say the marriage of two lives overcomes whatever obstacles life may bring,” Reverend Bodge said in a ceremony marked by laughter and light moments. “I would love to say this is a perfect testimony to that.”
The bride wore a blush lilac beaded dress with matching jacket that was bought at a second hand store in Falmouth for the occasion. She was given away in marriage by her son Robert Harris-Stoertz. The matron of honor was her daughter Ann Ricchiazzi; granddaughter Skye Willow Harris-Stoertz was the flower girl. Members of the bridal party wore floral crowns.
The bridegroom's best man was his son Mark Attebery.
The bride read a poem written by her late mother Dionis Coffin Riggs titled Silver Anniversary.
Her sister Ann Fielder played a solo on the cello. Frank and Peter Dunkl played the French horn and Ed Rogers played trumpet.
The church was decorated with lilacs, wisteria and rhododendrun, arranged by Dionis Montrowl. A linoleum block print of the church carved by the bride’s late father Dr. Sidney Riggs in 1930 decorated the cover of the program.
The couple first met in the summer of 1950 while working at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. Ms. Riggs was 18; Mr. Attebery was 28. Working at the laboratory sorting and counting plankton, they became friends and passed secret messages to each other through cryptograms.
Mark Attebery, son of bridegroom and best man, gives champagne toast at Cleaveland House, which has been in the bride's family for over 250 years.
Mark Attebery, son of bridegroom and best man, gives champagne toast at Cleaveland House, which has been in the bride's family for over 250 years.
Ms. Riggs returned to Antioch College in Ohio that fall and the two fell out of touch for the next 60 years. Both married and had children. Ms. Riggs later divorced and returned to the Vineyard to live at the Cleaveland House, her family homestead. Mr. Attebery stayed in the San Diego area; his wife later died.
They reconnected in January 2012 when Ms. Riggs received a package in the mail with no return address. Inside was a stack of the secret messages they used to pass to one another. There was also a new message.
“I have never stopped loving you,” it said.
The story first came to light at a summer storytelling performance held at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs for the Moth Radio Hour last year. At the time, Ms. Riggs had bought her tickets to California but had not yet met Mr. Attebery in person. The two told their completed story together in New York city this year on Valentine’s Day.
Crews from CBS filmed the wedding Saturday for a segment that will air next Friday.
In a 2012 interview with the Gazette, Ms. Riggs offered her personal lesson from the heart:
“Oh man, life is just amazing. Don’t give up hope. This is not what I expected at all. I’m 81 years old and he’s going to be 91 when he gets here. Really, how much time do we have? But you know, it really makes that amount of time precious.”
Following the wedding Saturday under gray and drizzly skies a reception was held at the Cleaveland House, Ms. Riggs's family home where they will live.
The couple plans to host a reception for the whole Island in July at their home.
For more photos of the ceremony and reception, see our gallery Love Story for Ages Celebrated in West Tisbury.
Comments
We wish you all good
Pam and Nat Benjamin Vineyard HavenWe wish you all good Blessings, Love and Light for a beautiful life together. Each moment is so very precious no matter how much time you have together.
This is the sweetest thing I
Mary H. Norwood, MAThis is the sweetest thing I've read in forever... How beautiful, I'm so happy they reconnected and are able to be happy after such long, happy lives. God bless them both and I wish them 50 years more! Thank you for a happy smile on this cold, rainy Boston day.
How wonderful!! Ms Riggs has
Crispin Haskins TorontoHow wonderful!! Ms Riggs has been such an inspiration to me and others through her writings. I am thrilled that she is part of such a wonderful story. May they have a beautiful marriage. Congratulations!!
Thank you Cynthia for sharing
Leslie Floyd Edgartown, MAThank you Cynthia for sharing your love story with me at our dinner last September! So happy for both of you!
This is so very beautiful. It
Jessie Vineyard HavenThis is so very beautiful. It makes me hopeful and believe in true love.
Congrats! Sounds like a good
karen bishop tampa, flCongrats! Sounds like a good theme for a new book!
About a year ago we worked
Janice Haynes West TisburyAbout a year ago we worked the polls together in WT and caught up during the slow times. You told me the story of this mysterious letter you had received and how after some discovery work you had figured out that it was a man you had known 60 years before. At that point you had only just made contact, but I was enchanted by the story then and have been thrilled to hear about the result as time has passed. I am so happy for you and your new husband and wish you the very best in the future before you! This is the best story you have ever 'written'!
Most heart-lifting wedding I
Shelley Christiansen Oak BluffsMost heart-lifting wedding I've ever been graced to witness. I want to be them when I grow up.
Love at any age. May
Jocelyn Oak BluffsLove at any age. May happiness and love greet you every morning.
This was so beautiful it
Bridget Harrington Wallingford, CTThis was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. It's never too late to find love. The joy and optimism in this is incredible. Much luck and love to both of them.
You give me hope Cynthia and
Joanie Ruppel Keller, TXYou give me hope Cynthia and Howard, love your story! Congratulations!
Never say never or that your
Elsie Parkhouse DelawareNever say never or that you're too old. What a beautiful love story. I wish them Health & Happiness for as much time as they have. It's what you do with your time that counts. God Bless you both.
Wishing you both only the
Rose Ann Riley KansasWishing you both only the best. Glad I had a glimpse into your life, Cynthia, last Fall. Much happiness for many years to come.
Life is for living, the time
Bernadette Craughwell Galway IrelandLife is for living, the time we have is not important, the happiness that we share is. Congratulations to you both and I wish you every blessing from Ireland.
Having just met Cynthia and
Patrice Donofrio Vineyard HavenHaving just met Cynthia and Howard only days before their wedding, I was struck by the calmness and infinite love which surround them. What a wonderful gift to receive at this time in their lives! A beautiful love story carried over time, enfolding like a blossom. Enjoy your blessings in the enchantment which radiates from both of you!
Cynthia and Howard: you are
Jenifer Parkinson Oak BluffsCynthia and Howard: you are two wonderful people creating a marriage which gives us all hope and reminds us to cherish every precious moment. And you are both so very very sweet together. Thank you for opening your hearts not only to each other but also to us all. This is what our world needs.
I am in inveterate reader of
Robert Sawyer Vineyard HavenI am in inveterate reader of news articles from a myriad of sources. In my entire life I have never enjoyed an article more than the story of Cynthia and Howard.
Can you imagine what it would
Michael West Vineyard HavenCan you imagine what it would be like to get a letter from someone saying, "I've never stopped loving you."? Heartbreakingly beautiful story.
We are so happy for you and
Bill & Sue Ewen Oak BluffsWe are so happy for you and wish you many blessings and good times in the years to come. I hope we will see you (both) on the American Star again this summer.
That's my grandmother! Much
Steven Moscow, RussiaThat's my grandmother! Much luck and happiness to both of you and many wonderful years to come.
I just saw the story on CBS
MJ Memphis, TNI just saw the story on CBS News today. It made me cry because it's one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever heard. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Cynthia to receive that note in the mail after so many years. And "Bravo" to Howard for finding the courage to contact Cynthia. It gives me hope that wonderful things can happen when we take a chance and reach out for love! Best Wishes to the newlyweds for a very happy marriage.
Tears. So sweet, this warmed
JD TorontoTears. So sweet, this warmed my heart on a bad day. Best wishes for a happy life together!
A wonderfull story and hope
Carol N.CA wonderful story and hope they live to be 150 and enjoy each other every day !! I was married for 40 years and left in hope there would be love somewhere--A guy I knew in 1968 ask me to marry him in 1969 (I was 19 and he was 25 I was too young and said No) he was heart broken and left for 40 years- we are back together and happier than ever. Love him dearly--life does go on !!
God Bless....
Charlie H NYGod Bless....
It's never too late to have love enter your life again :-)
Much happiness to the two of
Katey Denver, ColoradoMuch happiness to the two of you!
Love knows no boundaries.
How uplifting and joyous.
Congratulations and best
Dave McCauley Iowa City, IACongratulations and best wishes. Many happy returns.
This is such a beautiful
JuliaThis is such a beautiful story! I'm actually casting a new inspirational series for a major cable network about reconnecting long lost loves. I hope you don't mind my posting on here--but is anyone here also looking for their long lost love? If so, please email me at [email protected].
Congratulations to this lovely couple!
Julia
Delightful! Have a great day
Jim Rohrback Whidbey Island, WADelightful! Have a great day of Thanksgiving. The west Coast rejoices with you too.
So much loving time wasted
Lita PRSo much loving time wasted
Oh how sweet!love is
Eleanor johnson DublinOh how sweet!love is certainly like the Ocean.wishing you both a happy healthy life 2gether.xx
I love Cynthia Riggs books
Suzanne Mack-Loeber San DiegoI love Cynthia Riggs books and delighted to learn they met in San Diego.What a wonderful love story.
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