Stoeckingers Celebrate 50 Years of Mutual Support
By ALYSSA BRICKLIN Palisadian-Post Intern Julie and Jerry Stoeckinger will celebrate their 50th anniversary on Saturday, August 23 by renewing their vows at home before a small family gathering. The Stoeckingers, residents of Pacific Palisades for 34 years, met through a Los Angeles Catholic Alumni Club when they were in their 20s. A year after meeting, they were married at the St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles. Jerry proposed while they were out on dinner on a date. ‘I planned it. But she didn’t!’ Jerry laughs. While dating, Julie and Jerry enjoyed going to the movies, the theater, and out to eat. They had a large wedding with 250 guests, and held their reception at the Fox Hills Country Club. Their honeymoon was a road trip to Carmel and San Francisco. Julie grew up in Los Angeles and attended Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. Jerry hails from Indiana. After graduating from Purdue, he received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UCLA. The Stoeckingers moved to the Palisades in 1974 after being displaced by the expansion of the airport in Westchester. Jerry worked as an engineer for companies such as Lincoln Electric, while Julie taught elementary school at Hillcrest until their first child, Mark, was born. The couple also has a daughter, Lisa, and six grandchildren. When their children were growing up, the Stoeckingers enjoyed going on family camping trips every summer. Julie tells the Palisadian-Post that the success of their marriage is based on mutual support and understanding. ‘A lot of it has to do with our faith,’ she says. The Stoekingers and their family are long-time members of Corpus Christi Church. The couple turns light-hearted when fondly recalling their years together. ‘There’s a quote I heard once by Robert Preston, and I think it’s so true: ‘Marriage is a 70/30 proposition. I give 30 and my wife gives 70′,’ Julie laughs. ‘But truly, we really understand what each other needs.’
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