Valentine’s Day Insights
From Married Couples who Work Together
By Marla E. Schwartz
“BE MINE!” “KISS ME!” Those little meanings emblazed on chalky hearts are a big business. According to the National Confectioners Association about 8 billion of them were made during last year’s Valentine’s Day, which is enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona and back again twenty-times. An additional one billion valentines are sent every year, making it the second largest card-sending holiday next to Christmas.
It’s the one day a year that’s set aside for lovers to share their feelings for one another. So how do couples who work together succeed at both love and business ventures?
“I’ve had several couples in therapy who work together and the difficulties usually come from lack of clear definitions of roles, space and communication,” according to Helen Banta PhD, who has over 35 years of bilingual clinical experience doing psychotherapy and psychoanalysis with individuals and couples in Broward and Palm Beach counties. In many ways, marriage is a work-in-progress under any circumstances, not unlike a business.”
The following couples discussed their relationships/co-entrepenurial ventures. They’ve all been asked the same questions.
When and how did you first meet?
When did you begin working together?
Favorite traditions as a couple?
Most romantic Valentine’s Day together?
If you could travel on a romantic vacation together– where would you go and why?
Do you believe in soul mates?
Relationship advice?
Advice for newlyweds?
Do you wear the same color clothes as the same time – if not, what do you think of couples who dress this way?
Three nouns best describe your relationship? Anything else?
SAM & FARA SAX
This beloved husband and wife design team founded VAN GALZ TM Jewelry.
VAN GALZ TM Jewelry, 12902 SW 133rd Court, Miami. Tel: 786.735.1187, Fax: 305.259.1956, info@vangalz.com.
When and how did you first meet?
FARA: We met when I was a temp at Sam’s office. He asked me out to lunch and the rest is history.
SAM: Yes, but it took a little persistence on my part to convince her to dump the sandwich and go to lunch with me.
When did you begin working together?
SAM: It’ll soon be eight years.
Favorite traditions as a couple?
FARA: Traditional Friday night dinners at home with our two daughters.
SAM: I knew intuitively that she meant much more to me than just a steady.
If you could travel on a romantic vacation together– where would you go and why?
FARA: Traveling to Alaska has been a long time dream of ours.
Do you believe in soul mates?
FARA: Sam and I always felt we were soul mates as our connection was intense.
Relationship advice?
FARA: Communicate!
SAM: It’s especially important to communicate when hurt and/or angry.
Advice for newlyweds?
FARA: Always remember to agree to disagree.
SAM: Empathy for your partner is more effective than sympathy.
Do you wear the same color clothes as the same time – if not, what do you think of couples who dress this way?
FARA: Sam and I have been married a long time and that sometimes happens naturally for us because we think alike but we haven’t intentionally dressed the same.
Three nouns best describe your relationship?
FARA: Intense. Fiery. Feisty!
SAM: If not managed carefully, boardroom issues can easily spill over to the bedroom. It’s real important to separate the two.
Anniversary: Oct. 13th, 1992.
MICHELLE BERNSTEIN & DAVID MARTINEZ
Chef Michelle Bernstein is a Miami native. Many recognize her from the Emmy-nominated PBS weekly television series, Check, Please! South Florida.
Michy’s, 6927 Biscayne Blvd, Miami. Tues–Thurs, 6:30-10:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 6-11 p.m.; Sun, 6-9:30 p.m. Tel: 305.759.2001; www.chefmichellebernstein.com.
SRA. Martinez, 4000 NE 2nd Ave, Miami. Mon–Fri, noon-3 p.m. & 6-11p.m.; Fri-Sat 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Tel: 305.573.5474.
MB, Cancun, Tel: 305.774.0040 or 888.774.0040.
Michelle Bernstein at the Omphoy, 2842 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Tel: 561.540.6444.
MICHELLE: We both worked at the Mandarin Oriental’s Azul. We became co-workers, then friends and eventually bliss!
DAVID: Since Azul.
MICHELLE: We lunch together at least three times a week.
DAVID: We do something nice together at least once a day…whether it’s sitting outside or walking the dogs.
MICHELLE: David surprised me with a candle lit dinner in our backyard with a beautiful table, flowers, and a delicious dinner from one of our favorite restaurants. Best of all I didn’t cook!
MICHELLE: Skiing. We’ve only gone a couple of times but loved it!
MICHELLE: I do now.
MICHELLE: He’s not much into PDA; we definitely don’t make out in front of people but we do a lot of cheek kissing and holding hands.
MICHELLE: Be patient.
DAVID: Friendship is the most important part.
MICHELLE: When it happens, one of us usually ends up changing. I think it’s kind of silly but it’s not my place to judge.
MICHELLE: Happiness. Lovingness. Spontaneity.
MICHELLE: My husband rocks! Thanks to him, I’m a better person
Anniversary: Oct. 8, 2005.
FRANK RANDAZZO & ANDREA CURTO-RANDAZZO
Anyone who believes the old adage that “too many chefs spoil the broth” hasn’t met Frank Randazzo and Andrea Curto-Randazzo.
Talula, 210 23rd St., South Beach. Tel: 305.672.0778; www.talulaonline.com.
Creative Tastes Catering, 12229 SW 131 Ave., Miami. Tel: 305.256.8399; inquiries@creativetastes.com; website: www.creativetastes.com.
ANDREA: We met at Tribeca Grill in NYC. I was on my internship from the Culinary Institute of America and he was a cook. We started dating and moved to Miami together.
FRANK: Christmas Eve. We have a large gathering and I cook. We also take the kids trick or treating every year.
FRANK: What’re you trying to get me in trouble? We really work our tails off on Valentine’s Day. It’s one of the biggest days of the year for us in our restaurant. That’s our Valentine’s Day treat to each other.
ANDREA: Italy. We were supposed to go on our honeymoon but when we got married it was a month after 9-11. We got talked out of going and in hindsight I wish we would’ve gone because now it’s so much harder.
FRANK: It would have to be somewhere secluded.
ANDREA: I do. Frank is mine.
FRANK: As I get older I believe there are soul mates out there.
ANDREA: There’s a limit. It’s nice to be affectionate but you don’t have to be making out in my restaurant.
FRANK: Subtle, but yah.
ANDREA: Communication is the key. You won’t catch us not speaking for days.
FRANK: A relationship that’s going to succeed involves lots of compromise.
ANDREA: There’s another person to consider.
FRANK: It all changes. It doesn’t change over night – but it changes.
ANDREA: I don’t like the whole dressing alike thing. I’m all about individuality and expressing yourself.
FRANK: I’m not one of those people who need to show my attachment to my significant other by dressing similar.
ANDREA: Crazy. Sincere. Forever.
FRANK: Competitive. Loving. Energetic!
Anniversary: Oct. 7, 2001.
TROY AND BARBARA ECKONEN
They co-own Tropical Gym & Fitness. Troy began the business as a personal trainer and body-builder when he first moved to Florida from a small town in Ohio. Soon his wife-to-be came into the pictures and for these two lovebirds with a seventeen-year age difference, the rest certainly is history.
TROPICAL GYM & FITNESS, 930 Sample Rd., Pompano Beach; Tel: 954.478.1380; troy@tropicalgym.net; www.tropicalgym.net; hours: M-F: 7–11 am & 4–9 pm, weekends: 8 am – 2 pm.
TROY: I was working in the gym and she was walking across the parking lot. I wanted to sell her a membership but she came to work for me instead. We got married a year-and-a-half later.
TROY: Twice a year we like to go to Joe’s Stone Crab; after having a nice long day on Miami Beach riding bicycles.
BARBARA: We work every Valentine’s Day together. But they’ve always been very special.
TROY: The bottom line is we spend it together, on the job and afterwards.
BARBARA: I’d go to the south of Brazil because it’s beautiful and very romantic.
TROY: I would go with her but I’m more the Alaska type.
TROY: I do. It’s more than a coincidence that I met her because there are so many instances in our lives where we compliment one another.
TROY: I think it’s nice to be warm. But be considerate.
BARABRA: I’m from Brazil and everybody kisses and hugs each other in public.
BARBARA: You should respect each other.
TROY: Do it! Get married.
TROY: Hilarious.
BARBARA: I don’t like it.
TROY: Dramatic, as in the dramatic changes we see in people’s lifestyles.
BARBARA: Happiness. We’re always very happy together.
Anniversary: June 18, 2009.
STEPHANE AND FLORENCE OLIVERO
The owners of several lingerie shops in Europe, Stephane and Florence Olivero opened their first U.S. venture in Hollywood, FL. “We have the most beautiful selection of the best brands of sexy French lingerie,” Stephane said.
Vita Venice, 2025 Hollywood Blvd., Mon-Thurs 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Fri-Sat 10-10. Tel: 954.342.9284; www.vitovenice.us.
STEPHANE: A simple strike of lighting during an evening with friends.
FLORENCE: He had no doubt, me neither!
STEPHANE: We started our first company together a year after we met. The magic is finding the equilibrium within the passion, the private life and the professional life.
STEPHANE: Humor.
FLORENCE: Valentine’s Day 2005 without a doubt. He asked me to marry him.
FLORENCE: My dream destination is the Taj Mahal.
STEPHANE: Yes. Florence is my absolute and exclusive soul sister.
FLORENCE: We’re French – we’re very affectionate.
STEPHANE: Respect each other.
STEPHANE: The magic of the first time is compensated by the discovery of each other.
STEPHAN: We have very different styles to be dressing alike, but we respect others who do so.
STEPHANE: Love. Complicity. Trust.
FLORENCE: Love. Passion. Unity.
Anniversary: Oct. 12, 2005.
ANTONIO AND KATHERINE AMADEO
Antonio and Katherine (Katie) Amadeo operates The Naked Stage with John Manzelli at the Pelican Theatre, Barry University, Miami Shores.
Here’s a list of just a few regional acting credits they’ve been awarded:
Katherine – The Patient in 4.48 Psychosis (Carbonell nomination for Best Actress), Clarisse in Fahrenheit 451 (Gablestage).
Antonio – John Merrick in The Elephant Man (Carbonell nomination), Mosaic Theatre; The Pillowman (2007 Carbonell Award Winner), GableStage. His set design for 4.48 Psychosis earned him a Carbonell Award nod. He has a REMY Award for service from SouthFloridaTheatre.com.
Their most important fundraising activity is the 24-Hour Theatre project held every year in Miami. They recently produced MACON CITY, an original Comic Book play from the ground-breaking, local playwright Marco Ramirez.
The Naked Stage, (866).811.4111 nakedstage.org.
TOGETHER: We met at Actors’ Playhouse doing The Sound of Music.
ANTONIO: She was Liesel and I was the Nazi.
ANTONIO: We got married at Casa De La Paz in St. Augustine, so that’s a favorite destination of ours.
KATIE: One tradition that Antonio and I have is that we have breakfast together every morning. It’s nice to have the little morning time together. We usually put on a DVD for an hour or two.
KATIE: The Sound of Music just closed. Our relationship was about five-months old. We had dinner at the Melting Pot, he treated, brought Roses. We came back to his apartment – and there were all these different breeds and they were so beautiful. I’ve always loved stuffed animals and it was so thoughtful and tailored to who I am as a person. I was so touched.
KATIE: George Schiavone was randomly taking pictures at a Carbonell party and he happened to take a picture of our first kiss
ANTONIO: And she made me an art graphic of it. It’s one of my favorite things.
KATIE: London and Ireland. I’m Irish and I’ve never been.
KATIE: Yes. I felt an instant connection to him and the room lit up when he walked in.
ANTONIO: Soul mate isn’t a term I use a lot. I believe in true love.
ANTONIO: There are lines of decency and respect for other people that you have to be aware of.
ANTONIO: Every married couple has to be entirely open and communicative and come up with rules of marriage that fit them so when issues do come up at the very least you’re on the same playing field.
KATIE: Be honest and open.
ANTONIO: I think a lot of couples get really impatient and judgmental very quickly about the other person and marriage is hard.
KATIE: In relationships things are never completely equal and you have to roll with it.
KATIE: No we don’t. But it did happen the other day.
ANTONIO: If others love it why should I judge?
ANTONIO: Love. Patience. Respect.
KATIE: Friendship. Trust. Understanding.
Anniversary: Sept. 6, 2003.
Valentine’s Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-1601):
To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn’d his clothes,
And dupp’d the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
HOW TO SAY “I LOVE YOU” IN A FEW DIFFERENT LANGUAGES:
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French –
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Je t’aime, Je t’adore
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Gaelic –
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Ta gra agam ort
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Italian –
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Ti amo
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Portuguese –
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Amo-te
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Spanish –
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Te quiero / Te amo
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A native of Toledo, OH and a graduate of Kent State, Marla E. Schwartz has been a professional journalist since her teenage years and is a Senior Writer for Miami Living Magazine, and a freelance writer for CRAVINGS South Florida in Aventura, as well as Around Wellington Magazine and Lighthouse Point Magazine. An avid photographer, her images have appeared in numerous Ohio publications, as well as in Miami Living, The Miami Herald, The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post. She has had numerous plays published and produced around the country. Her short play, America’s Working? was originally read at First Stage in Los Angeles and in the same city produced at the Lone Star Ensemble. It was then produced at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL and then taken to an Off-Broadway playhouse by its producers Adam and Carrie Simpson. Her piece, The Lunch Time Café, was a finalist for the Heideman Award, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Feel free to contact her at: meschwartz1@hotmail.com.
As we get ready for another Valentine’s Day, writer Marla Schwartz gives us a glimpse into the lives of several couples who work together. She asks, “How do couples who work together succeed at both love and business ventures?” Check out “
Growing up in Plant City in the 1970’s I have wonderful memories of the Strawberry Festival Parade held on the Monday of each festival.
