[ MAUKA-MAKAI ]
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A spark becomes It's natural to think about a first love or an old flame from time to time. According to Harlequin -- purveyors of romance novels -- 25 percent of Americans pine for the one that got away. That's one in four; look around you and try to guess who.
a flame
George and Clare Leavitt rekindle
their teen romance after 60 yearsBy nancy arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.comTragic tales of lost love have been preserved on film, in books, songs and even television shows.
If someone had told George Leavitt that he would reconnect with his high school sweetheart, Clare, after a 60-year separation, he would have asked them, "What have you been smoking? It would have seemed an impossible occurrence," he said.
As if whisked back into time, these two lovebirds act as if they were still 16-year-olds in the throes of first love, holding hands everywhere they go.
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GEORGE AND CLARE were sweethearts when she was 18 and he was 19. That was back in 1939.They lived in Sacramento, Calif., dated exclusively, went to plays, dances and enjoyed a lot of activities together. "We had some really good times," said George.
"The Depression hadn't ended but we didn't feel poor," he said. "I was working in a drugstore. Clare was active in music," he said.
They were living a fairy-tale experience until fate stepped in.
"We were not engaged. I had to go on a two-year mission (for the Mormon Church) to England," George said.
"Two years seems like forever when you are young. I didn't know if I'd ever see him again," said Clare.
After going on a blind date and attending many dance and social gatherings, Clare fell in love with someone else.
"While I was away, Clare met and married a fine man. She ended up having five children, two daughters and three sons," said George.
"She sent me that 'Dear George' letter when I was still in England. I wanted to write back and tell her to forget about him, but I didn't. I decided if she had already made a commitment to him, there was nothing I could say. So, I just accepted it," he said.
"You didn't fight very hard for me," Clare chimed in. George said it was difficult because they were so far apart.
George returned home a few months before the Pearl Harbor attack. "I immediately enlisted in the Army Air Corps and went into a pilot training program," he said. "After getting my wings and commission, I was assigned to be a flight instructor (in Arizona)." During this time he met his wife-to-be, Elaine. They would raise three daughters and a son.
George and Clare said they both had happy, healthy marriages. "We never thought about each other romantically over the years. We never thought we would see each other again," said Clare. "We went on with our lives. We were dedicated and faithful spouses, and both of us wanted to teach our children to be good citizens in this great country we live in," George added.
Fate intervened once more after their spouses passed away.
Clare asked Donnie Spence, George's sister-in-law, for his address so she could send a card. Instead, Spence gave Clare his phone number and said, "Why don't you just call him?"
"That did it," said Clare. "I was very excited."
"She called me and we talked. That's what started it all," said George. The phone calls went from once a week to three times a week, and eventually the couple was talking nightly. After a month of phone calls, George, who has lived in Hawaii since 1961, met Clare in Sacramento.
"We had already sent photos to each other, so it wasn't a total surprise. I figured she could have said no after she saw my picture," chuckled George.
"We met, talked about old times and were thrilled to see each other," said George. "We walked into each other's arms, and that was it. We decided there was definitely still a spark there. What time we have left we decided should be spent together," he said.
"It was so nice when he came back. I never forgot George. ... He was always in my heart," Clare said.
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At first they admitted they were nervous and giddy."You get a little embarrassed because you haven't been together for so long," said Clare.
But George said, "We got over it quickly," as if 60 years melted away and time had never passed, and they got engaged a week after reuniting.
"We didn't want to spend the rest of our lives alone. The timing was just perfect," he added.
When the couple announced their engagement to Clare's children, their mouths dropped open. Family members were surprised by the speed at which the two lovebirds were rushing along. "We felt at our age, we should not be wasting any time," George said. "I left in May 1939, and we were married in October of 1999, so actually it had been 60 and a half years."
"Our kids were happy," said Clare. "They know the whole story, and we kept them up to date. If you see a picture of them all together, they look like one big family."
The wedding was held at Clare's son's house in Sacramento, with only family members and a few friends. "My son brought leis from Hawaii, so it added a Hawaiian touch," said George.
"When we returned to Hawaii, nobody knew about our marriage or that we were even together," said George. "We are both active in the Mormon Church, and members of the congregation are able to go and talk during the service. There was a lull moment, so I took Clare by the hand, led her up front and introduced her as my new wife.
"They were shocked. We have a lot of mutual friends, but no one ever expected us to get back together. Neither did we."
"It brought tears to my eyes as he told our story to everyone," Clare said.
George is now 83 years old and Clare is 82, and they continue to try to make up for lost time.
"We're still catching up," they said. "It's so exciting to do things together," said George.
"We still have lots in common after all these years," Clare said.
"We get along so well and he's easy to live with. ... He's always pleased. He even eats anything I fix him. He is not fussy like some of the men nowadays that I hear women talking about," she said.
The couple spends much of their time with family. Between them they have nine children, 36 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
"We are both in good health, and that's the main thing. And I plan on keeping it that way," said Clare. "We don't feel old at all."
They have plans to travel to Maui and Kauai. "We already went to the Big Island and participated in the Mormon Temple dedication," said George. "We also hiked up Diamond Head together."
One of the couple's favorite spots is the park at the top of Aiea, where they often enjoy romantic picnics. They also cook and garden together. "Its been wonderful," she said. "We enjoy being together, even if we're just reading at home."
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