It was the summer of 1972 and John was excited for a hot, blind date with this girl named Ann Marie, when suddenly tragedy struck! An interloper swooped in, in the form of their friend George. He asked Ann Marie out before John got his shot! In time, John proved to be a lucky, lucky man (see: 50 years together!) and, at a New Year’s Eve party celebrating the incoming 1973, our fated couple finally united. When asked what his first impressions of Ann Marie were after first laying eyes on her, he said, “you don’t need to know that.” Someone was certainly smitten!
At the time, both were attending classes at OCCC, Orange County Community College, but by the next year, John had returned to Canisius after having been excused from the draft, and Ann Marie was at Harriman College. The two did the back-and-forth thing for awhile and by the time Christmas of 1975 rolled around, John was ready to pop the question! According to Ann Marie, “it wasn’t very romantic” but we sure appreciate that she said, “Yes!” Ever the rebel, John did not ask for parental permission though he was pretty confident he had Grandma and Grandpa (Harry & Marie) Edsall’s approval. When asked if the Brosnan parents, Julia and Jeremiah, approved of her, Ann Marie recounted that she had a bit of a reputation as a fancy-pants because John’s brother Dan had nicknamed her “Mustang Sally” – She and her brother Butch shared a 1971 Mach One, gold with black racing stripes, and absolute beauty of a car! She also pointed out that it could be hard to tell where you stood with Grandpa Brosnan who did make much fuss about guests and would regularly declare after dinner, “ Well, it’s 5:30, time to mow the lawn,” and off he went without another word.
Continuing with our story, he asked, she accepted and the wedding planning began! Ann Marie was set on the Jolly Onion Inn (ever heard of it?) and though her mother had asked for the wedding to be in November, the Jolly Onion didn’t have any other open dates and August 21, 1976 was decided. As a result of the Jolly Onion’s packed schedule, the family got their wedding gift a day early – Carrie Ann Edsall, Butch & Donna’s first daughter and the Edsall’s first grandbaby was born August 20th (Happiest of birthdays to our cousin!). No, Aunt Donna did not make it to the reception. For the big day, another niece stood up with the happy couple as their flower girl – Sheila Brosnan, Jerry & Jean’s oldest, who was seven at the time.
The ceremony took place at St. John’s Catholic Church in Goshen, NY with both the local priest and Ann Marie’s Reverend Myrop from Amity Presbyterian officiating. Funny enough, their pre-cana priect, who they really liked, left the priesthood to get married! Standing up with Ann Marie was her friend Laurie Kellaher and her maid of honor, Donna Murphy. Standing up with John were his brother Dan, his best man Mike Osbourne, the party-thrower at whose house the two first got acquainted Jack Deegan, and, you wouldn’t believe it – George! The friend who almost scooped John’s girl way back in the summer of 1972!
Of course, what would a wedding be without a little added drama? First, maid of honor Donna and best man Mike had dated forever but dramatically broke up close to the wedding! John and Ann Marie recalled that the break-up provided some awkward moments but everyone was able to get along. Second, it was so hot, muggy and windy the day of the wedding that the happy couple and their wedding party were unable to take photos outside as they had planned – the solution was a bit unconventional. They headed over to the Purta funeral home in Pine Island and that’s where their formal photos were taken! The reception at the Jolly Onion Inn was lovely and guests dined on roast beef. The newlyweds headed off for their honeymoon in proper style with tin cans hanging from the rear bumper of John’s red Toyota Celica (per Dad: “that was a great car, I bought it for $3600.00). They spent their first night of married life at what Ann Marie describes today as “the cheapest motel in Middletown.” Overnight, their best man covered their door in newspaper so they had to bust out of it with flair in the morning to the cheers of the other motel guests in the parking lot. Back in the Celica, they headed to their honeymoon destination – Virginia Beach. Later, they learned that the party had continued without them after the reception. The Edsalls apparently hosted an after-party rager that went all night! John and Ann Marie had a great honeymoon and told the story of how, having just read Jaws like everyone else in America, there was some fear of sharks in the ocean. When John went back to their room to retrieve their radio, upon his return, he was met with Ann Marie and many of the other beachgoers clearing the shore – a pool of dolphins had sparked a little Jaws-fueled panic!
50 Years of Love 