Laura K., born and raised in Westchester County, New York, was working as an elementary school teacher in Chappaqua when a coworker made a suggestion.
“She and another colleague thought it would be fun to set me up on a blind date,” Laura recalled.
The date, it turned out, would be with the colleague’s son.
Rich Cooper had spent most of his childhood in Westchester County and was then living in Boston, working as a marketing manager. When his mother suggested a blind date with her colleague, Rich was hesitant.
Laura and Rich had similarities. They’d grown up 20 minutes apart. Both were 25 and single. And neither had ever been on a blind date.
With a modest amount of uncertainty, the pair agreed to meet when Rich returned to New York for Thanksgiving. A looming sense of obligation weighed heavily on both.
“He put together a quick, mid-afternoon museum date,” Laura said, remembering the relief she felt.
The date wasn’t likely to be drawn out.
“The instant, undeniable connection” they both felt immediately was something neither anticipated. What started as a visit to a museum led to dinner, a movie, and finally Starbucks.
“We had spent over six hours together,” Laura said of that first date. Looking back on that day, both knew: “We had found our match.”
After the date, Rich waited for what Laura referred to as “the obligatory three days” before calling her. A second date was arranged for the following month when Rich was back in New York with his family for Christmas. Six months later, they were engaged.
While visiting Rich in Boston that spring, the two decided to take a day trip to Marblehead.
“We fell in love with its beauty, history, and charm,” Laura recalled. “We thought it would be fun to look at some apartments, and stopped into a local real estate office on Washington Street.”
Realtor Gerry Kaplan showed the couple an available unit on Front Street.
“Rich and I signed a lease that day,” Laura said.
Marblehead became home to Rich and Laura. Rich proposed at Crocker Park, and the pair was married at Star of the Sea.
“We have now been married for almost 22 years and have three teenage children, with our oldest going off to college in September,” Laura said. “We both have loved living and working in Marblehead and truly feel supported in this community.”
In May of this year, Laura’s business, Saltwater Bookstore, opened at the former location of Gerry Kaplan’s office.
“Things come full circle,” Laura said. “And I think of that first day in Marblehead often.”
Leslie Martini is a freelance writer and children’s book author. Though she and her family have lived in Marblehead for more than 26 years, Leslie is still discovering countless untold stories. If you’d like to share your story, please contact leslie@marbleheadweeklynews.com.
