America’s Most Captivating Couples 2008
Newton, Massachusetts
Jennifer Chrisler, 37, Executive Director, Family Equality Council
Cheryl Jaques, 45, Lawyer, Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten
Jennifer and Cheryl met almost 15 years ago when Jennifer got involved in Cheryl’s campaign for state senate. They were friends for five years before they started dating. As the Executive Director of the Family Equality Council (formerly Family Pride), Jennifer fights for the rights of all loving families, regardless of blood relation or sexual orientation. In addition to being a lawyer, Cheryl is the former head of the Human Rights Campaign. They are the proud parents of two sons, Tom and Tim, age five. “We love spending time with our kids, playing checkers, go fish and Connect Four. For gown-up fun, we love going to estate sales to find treasures, and taking long walks together,” says Jennifer. Their secret: “We try to remember to attack our problems instead of each other. Whenever we face adversity in our lives, we remain focused on what we are trying to solve instead of getting angry with each other about the situation we’re in. It also helps to have a good sense of humor, and to laugh together often.”
The results are in! After a grueling selection process, we’ve skimmed the sweet cream off this year’s batch of entries and whipped it into GO’s most captivating couples of 2008. Many more couples coming soon!
Angelique & Christine
Plainfield, New Jersey
Angelique Irizarry, 32, High School Health and Physical Education Teacher, Head Coach,
Co-Owner of Shescape Events Production Company, Restaurateur
Christine Sipples, 30, Pharmaceutical
Sales Representative
“About seven years ago, I was visiting friends in NYC,” says Christine. “I had not come out yet and was still in college.” Christine and friends went to Henrietta Hudson, and were dancing the night away when Angelique walked in wearing a head-wrap. They danced together once before Angelique left. For the next two years, Christine would see her here and there, but they didn’t speak again until coincidence brought them back to Henrietta’s at the same time. After several months and many e-mails, they had their first date. A couple of years later, Angelique proposed. The couple was married in July 2007. Their key to a good relationship: “Laughing until you cry, patience for each other and always maintaining intimacy.”
