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!
Abny & Jordan
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Abny Santicola, 31, Managing Editor, North American Publishing Company
Jordan Pascucci, 26, Undergraduate Admissions Office and Graduate Student at the University of Pennsylvania
Abny had admired Jordan secretly for years by the time they finally met at a monthly ladies’ party where Jordan DJs. “I nearly fell over when she actually came to talk to me,” Abny admits. Flash forward to 2007, when the couple ran their first half-marathon together. Jordan had a pouch from Tiffany’s in her pocket all through the race. “I suddenly stopped and grabbed Abny’s hand and said, ‘I love you.’ She thought that was cute and said, ‘I love you too.’ And then she started running again! So I grabbed her hand again and said, ‘No, I love you. Will you marry me?” They will be wed on the Summer Solstice, surrounded by their friends. “Because Abny’s family does not accept her sexuality, friends become even more important in creating our own unique support network,” says Jordan. Abny adds, “She’s the most fascinating person I’ve ever met, and every day I’m more hooked.” Jordan says that passion plus friendship makes everything possible. “I can’t tell Abny enough how crazy I am about her, and how beautiful she is. Being good to her and fueling this in-love feeling is what I look forward to every day.”
