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Celebrating more than 50 years of wedded bliss

By NOVA BEALL
Published April 19, 2007

Paul and Helen Domeny of Palm Harbor celebrated their 51st anniversary in grand fashion this year, with a trip to Miami to watch the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl. Their son-in-law, Peter, was a former pro football player and is now a Colts coach under Tony Dungy.

"It was a great experience; really it was," Helen said with a chuckle, "but I have to tell you, the weather was bad and I've never been so wet in my life!"

At 4, Helen immigrated to this country in 1938 from Hungary. She and her mother passed through Ellis Island to join Helen's father, who had arrived earlier.

"And just in time, too," Helen said, referring to the start of World War II in Europe. "We were the fortunate ones."

Helen grew up in Detroit, and it was there she met her future husband, attorney Paul Domeny. They married on Feb. 18, 1956. The couple set up house and were blessed with three daughters.

When Paul retired, he and Helen decided to divide their time between Palm Harbor and Liberty Hill, S.C., in order to spend time with their daughters and their families.

Football has been a popular passion for the entire family. All the male Domeny grandchildren have played or are currently playing football at their respective schools.

Helen recently underwent shoulder surgery. When a grandson inquired if she would come watch his game, she assured him, "Just as soon as my shoulder heals. I'll be out there cheering you on."

The Domenys have three daughters with families, Barbara Metzelaars and her husband, Peter, and Suzanne Mallekoote and her husband, Scott, all of South Carolina, and Mary Lauterbach and her husband, Tim, of Clearwater, and seven grandchildren, Thomas and Taylor Lauterbach, Anthony and Jonathon Metzelaars, and Garrett, Kendall and Lilly Mallekoote.

* * *

Norm and Cecile Demers celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Jan. 10, 2007, with close friends at the E&E Steak Out Grill in Belleair Bluffs.

The couple married in 1942 in the Panama Canal Zone while Norm was in the Army, after which they were both employed by the Panama Canal Co. Cecile worked more than 30 years with the Army and Navy as manager of the Central Employment Office at Cristobal in the Canal Zone. Norm retired as deputy director of the Transportation and Terminals Bureau and received the Presidential Management Improvement award for excellence in improving government operations and saving taxpayers $1-million.

The couple came to Largo in 1973, and Norm spent the next 25 years with H&R Block Tax Service in Clearwater doing income, corporate and estate taxes.

Norm and Cecile have sponsored the education of Catholic priests and nuns for many years, and provided scholarships to students in several Catholic schools. The couple is also deeply involved in philanthropy with the Gamma Knife Center at Morton Plant Hospital, Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute, Bascam Eye Institute, Miami, Native American schools, and sponsoring the updating of the computer lab at St. Patrick's School in Largo.

Both are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and Norm has been a Rotarian for many years in Panama and Belleair Bluffs.

For information or an anniversary form, call 727 445-4221. To submit an item to Good For You, write to Nova Beall, 710 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Fax forms to (727) 445-4119, or e-mail sbeall@sptimes.com.

[Last modified April 18, 2007, 22:07:51]