Valentines for a lifetime

Deepa Bharath

No one can remember the Pierces ever being apart.

Claudius and Phyllis Pierce were married 40 years. The Newport

Beach couple did everything together.

They took trips to their favorite travel destination: Hawaii. They

planned romantic getaways on Valentine’s Day. They absolutely enjoyed

doing crossword puzzles together.

So, it was little surprise that when Phyllis passed away in

December, Claudius followed her in February.

To family members, it was amazing that he even lasted a month and

a half without the love of his life. He was 92 and she, 91.

They lived a life filled with passion, excitement and romance.

Their life looked like a glimmering page from a fairy tale where the

days perpetually emanated the fresh scent of spring and the nights

were filled with fun and enchantment.

The couple loved their food. They enjoyed all kinds of cuisine.

Locally, they were regular visitors to the Crab Cooker and the

Arches. Sometimes, they took off to Beverly Hills on a whim -- just

to get a drink at the Beverly Wilshire or the Beverly Hills Hotel.

But their all-time favorite? In-N-Out burgers. It was the last

meal they both had. It was the only thing their daughter could get

them to eat when they were not feeling too well.

Their marriage was not the first for either. Claudius was married

twice before and twice divorced. Phyllis had been married once and

widowed.

But, for Claudius, love was sweeter the third time around. He met

Phyllis for the first time in Los Angeles. He was the vice-president

of a company and she was a saleswoman who was trying to sell him

printers. No one quite knows if he ended up buying any printers from

her. But he ended up giving her a lot more than she could have ever

asked for.

They fell in love and got married in Whittier in November of 1963.

They remodeled Phyllis’ Newport Beach home and moved in. Phyllis

continued her career as a saleswoman as she established an entire

network to sell Tupperware on the West Coast.

But her heart was always in Newport Beach. Phyllis spoiled her

husband. She never let him lift a finger. She did the laundry, the

dishes and even brought his meals to the table.

Claudius spoiled his wife in his own way. He bought her flowers

and jewelry and whisked her off on romantic trips around the world.

Although Claudius’ condition deteriorated when his wife died, he

understood at some level that she wasn’t around. He could sense that

void in his life. He knew she wasn’t there any more. He wasn’t going

to hang around much longer without her.

They lived life exactly as they wanted -- together.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@ latimes.com.