Paul Mertz, 77, and his wife Alice, 70, of Plum Borough, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 25. As cancer survivors, they say they are not only celebrating their anniversary, but the fact that they made it through their illnesses and are still here together. The couple has three children: Linda M. Ross, Shawn D. Mertz and Kathy Ofiesh (deceased). They also have five grandchildren: Amanda Diaz, Cory Banks, Daniel Mertz, Erica (Mertz) Salmond and Brian Ross.

Q: How did you meet?

Alice: Paul and I met at an Elks Club dance in Pittsburgh.

Q: Who introduced you?

Alice: No one really, we just introduced ourselves and starting dancing.

Q: Where did you each grow up?

Alice: I grew up in Millvale and then moved to Shaler in tenth grade. Paul grew up in Wilkinsburg.

Q: Who proposed? How?

Alice: One night after we'd been dating a few months he simply said, "When are we going to get married?"

Q: Where were you married? Why did you choose that site?

Alice: We are married at First Evangelical Reformed Church in Millvale. That's where I was a member.

Q: Where was the reception and honeymoon? Why did you choose those sites?

Alice: Our reception was at Bauerstown Fire Hall, then we went to Florida for our honeymoon.

Q: What is your favorite wedding memory?

Alice: When I walked down the aisle, Paul looked like he was in seventh heaven. He had the biggest smile on his face!

Q: Do you still own any of your wedding gifts? If so, what?

Alice: We still have a crystal vase and a large salad bowl with silver utensils.

Q: What is the secret to your successful marriage?

Alice: Having God guide us, and being committed to each other no matter what the situation.

Q: What activity do you enjoy doing most as a couple?

Alice: We enjoy attending family functions, like great-grandchildren's birthday parties. We also look forward to activities at our church.

Q: How did you celebrate your anniversary?

Alice: We had a dinner party with 55 relatives and friends in a dining hall at an adult community clubhouse. I wrote a poem about our ups and downs of the last 50 years and had pictures to go with it. Unfortunately the projector we borrowed wouldn't work so I just read it. Some of our guests made short speeches. Paul and I are both cancer survivors, so we just wanted to celebrate our still being here together.

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