Gilroy’s Downtown Business Association sponsored its first Valentine’s Day contest for the most romantic couple. It gave prizes to the top 3 (we’ll let you know who they were soon). But first, read these and give us your vote for the best in the comments.
#1 Sheila Smith
I first had to think, what is romance?
If its defined by expensive trips, fancy candle lit dinners or big garish diamond rings, then that would not be me and Moki.
But, if its defined by long walks after bad dreams at night, fishing in the dark and marathon talks on a pay phone til dawn talking about our dreams for the future or hugging in silence and tears when the words won’t come, then we fit the bill.
We met and fell in love in Gilroy in 1981. We’ve been homeless, shot at, broke as a joke and chased our kiddos all over this south bay to keep them in line, all the while, being best friends (even when we felt like enemies) and by God’s grace grown closer every year.
There was the year he brought me flowers every week because I said he never did, that’s the kind of commitment to romance that we’ve got. And, when the old midlife crisis began to rear its ugly head, I decided that being a full- time girlfriend for a while was not a problem and dealt a death blow to that!
35 years and 6 fabulous kids later, we still dance together every week at least once or twice, whether we are irritated with each other or not and again, if staying unwaveringly committed to grow our love in the face of every dark and sinister power of the universe counts as romance, then again, we’re up there in the ranking.
He still tells me I’m the hottest little number on the block and I think he’s the cats meow, so in an effort to inspire young couples of Gilroy to keep on keeping on, I will just say this – Romance, like love, is a decision, not a feeling but when we decided to stay in love, what a terrific feeling!
Everyone keep dancing!
#2 Haley Crampton-Saldana
On February 18th, 2017, it will be our ten year wedding anniversary. My husband and I met in Gilroy 11 years ago at the elementary school where we are both teachers. 9 years ago, we bought our first home in Gilroy, right around the corner from the school where we still work. We definitely love this town beyond the fact that Gilroy was where our lives intersected for the first time.
My husband is a Gilroy native, who spent his years after high school attempting to move out of his home town. He says every time he tried to leave, he always found his way back. I was born in Oregon and have slowly moved south over the years. I ended up going to CSUMB for my teaching credential and my first interview was in Gilroy. I didn’t know much about Gilroy, but somehow it seemed meant to be. I suppose it was destiny that we both ended up in Gilroy and found each other. I know that it wasn’t something we would have imagined or planned more than a decade ago. However, now we can’t imagine leaving and we feel grateful every day for our amazing jobs, community, and of course each other.
In the summer, you will find us on Fifth Street checking out the live music and food trucks. Around Halloween, you will find us at the beer crawl. In the spring, we will be at the wine stroll. On Friday nights and weekends we will be frequenting our favorite restaurants and wineries right in our neighborhood. Gilroy is the setting for the love story that is our lives.
This town is the beginning of our love story and we are happy being here together. We love teaching in Gilroy, living in Gilroy, and raising our family here. I don’t know if this qualifies us as the most romantic couple, but we definitely feel like we are lucky Gilroy lovebirds every day.
#3 Dina and Brendan McQuaid
Married August 2, 2006
What began as just a simple, one-time date on a Sunday night with my Uncle’s co-worker, ended up being far from simple or a one time thing. For the next 4 weeks following our first date, we spent as much time as possible together. We knew our time together was short because he only had 2 months before he was moving back home to Ireland. We would cheesily joke that I would cut my long black hair, which he loved, right before he left so he could take it with him to remember me by.
After this 4 weeks of intense dating, we were on this beach in Half Moon Bay that we always seemed to end up at. It was around 1 in the morning so we had the beach to ourselves. We were huddled under a blanket while staring at the full moon and the crashing waves, when he casually mentioned that his friend told him it was obvious that he should marry me instead of moving back to Ireland.
I shivered from the cold summer night air and nervously laughed because little did he know, my Uncle had suggested to me the same thing, while also pointing out that we had already fallen in love and didn’t even know it yet.
Whatever look I gave him after he told me this, must have given him a glance right into my soul because his green eyes widened and he excitedly said, “Oh my gosh, you love me don’t you?”. As he asked me this, it finally hit me, I really was in love with him. But at that exact moment, I also realized he was in love with me too. Without answering his question I said back to him, “Wait, you love me too don’t you?”
We laughed at these crazy revelations and then we shared a perfect, passionate kiss. Then he held me in his arms and asked me to marry him and without hesitation I said, “YES!”. Two weeks later we eloped and got married on that same little beach in Half Moon Bay.
Yep, that’s right, we got married six weeks after our first date. Almost 11 years and 5 kids later and we still can’t get enough of each other. It is the craziest, riskiest and absolutely the best decision we ever made. We still bicker over who fell in love first, but trust me when I say, it was him.
#4 Darren Yafai, on behalf of Andrea & Darren
Most often in life we characterize a “romantic relationship” as a partnership shared in fun and happiness, honesty and openness, respect and thoughtfulness…passion in and outside the bedroom! We live in a romantic town, where folks have a passion and “spice” for life. My wife and I, Andrea and Darren Yafai, are Gilroy’s Most Romantic Couple, time-tested and continuing to seize every day. To be Gilroy’s Most Romantic, a couple should be passionate about each other AND our wonderful town.
Andrea and I have liked each other since our Gilroy High days. She asked me to the Winter Ball but I was already going with someone else. A few years later while we were both college students I wanted to take her out but was disappointed to find out she had a boyfriend. Timing is everything and once we had graduated and moved back to Gilroy we went out on a date, were boyfriend-girlfriend within days (I think?), engaged a few months later and married at St. Mary’s Church within a year! Fast forward 2017…we have been together almost 24 years, have 2 kids (one at Christopher High with me, the other at the University of Notre Dame) and love each other more now than ever. Andrea and I have always sought to have a solid balance; raising our children with love and guidance while nurturing our own relationship…taking care of us. We both are GUSD teachers and share almost all the same passions. We believe in community service and embrace our town’s culture, diversity, arts, history, food and nightlife.
The Yafai’s love travel and have led international tours every summer for the past 10 years, and mixing in an additional romantic European vacation just for 2, Paris on many occasions. I do have to mention that although we love the Garlic Capital of the World and will always live here, we have the most romantic retirement dream; we fell in love with the beach town of Nice, Southern France years ago. When we retire our hope is to purchase a small apartment in Nice as a 2nd home and open up a small Mexican Cantina, perhaps “Taqueria California”?…where locals, tourists and our vacationing friends can enjoy Gilroy, California style Tacos, Cervezas y Margaritas! Is there anything quite as romantic than that?
To be Gilroy’s Most Romantic, a couple needs to show all the characteristics I mentioned above. What sets our romance apart is that our’s continues to grow and has been built on love and mutual respect and admiration for quite a long time. Partners, pals, lovers, parents, community leaders with of course some chocolate and roses. Happy Valentine’s Day!
#5 Shannon
I absolutely have to nominate my dad and stepmom. Mark and Jenny Derry are one of the most romantic couples I know and it’s not because they’re flashy or over the top with one another or in front of other people.
They’re romantic because of the little things. Jenny leaves my dad little love notes expressing her love for my dad everyday. When I was little and we were on road trips, my dad always made sure us girls were quiet in the car when Jenny fell asleep, so she could rest.
My dad and Jenny explore the outdoors together on a regular basis, especially the South County wilderness, with hikes and walks. My dad and Jenny still hold hands and my dad always calls Jenny “sweetie”. When my stepmom became very ill with Guillan-Barre syndrome, my dad stood by her every side every second of her lengthy hospitalization and was her biggest advocate for recovery. Jenny plans surprise trips for my dad, so they can enjoy new things together. My dad cooks good BBQ for my stepmom on a regular basis.
They encourage each other to workout and stay fit, so they can continue loving each other for a long time. My dad still dances with my stepmom at parties, just like they did when I was little. It’s the constant expressions of love in the small things that is inspiring about them. Definitely, they’re the most romantic Gilroy couple I know. Whether you know them or not, if you saw them you’d know they were head over heals for each other. Thanks for your consideration. I’m sure who have a lot of great choices!
#6 Danny and Nita Mitchell
Our love story is an unusual one that all has it’s history in Gilroy. We were both raised in Gilroy. We met in high school but my “now” husband was dating one of my best friends so I never looked at him romantically.
In retrospect, I am reminded I caught the bouquet at their wedding!
I left Gilroy to go to Fresno State where I became a nurse, had my children and my career as a nurse, spending 40 years there. I swore I would never marry again after a 25 year marriage and difficult divorce.
I came back to Gilroy in 2010, for a Gilroy High School class reunion. I visited briefly with my “now husband” who was in charge of the event and he didn’t really have time to visit. During the months afterwards we saw each other at two funerals of mutual friends.
It took a few months before our first “real date”. On Easter, 2011, he kissed me the first time and we both knew we were meant to be. We dated long distance complete with special internet love letters. We both love music and he sent me beautiful love songs constantly to enjoy. He proposed very romantically. My son told me was happy I didn’t have to go to funerals to meet men anymore! (He was kidding!)
My mother lives here in Gilroy so it seemed in more ways than one, the stars were in alignment for me to move back to Gilroy. I was lucky enough to find a job working out of Gilroy. We got married in August, 2011, in my Mother’s back yard with only our children and grandchildren present. Sam Bozzo conducted the “perfect” ceremony. We both have two children and 10 grandchildren between us.
This blended family is the best any two people could be blessed with. They are such a joy and they are all close to each other. We celebrate our anniversary monthly (our friends think we are pitiful). We enjoy our church and faith. We both enjoy sports (Giants, 49ers, Warriors), the beach, gardening, music, and traveling. We enjoy special moments doing the simplest things. Each day we find more to love about each other.
Our history in Gilroy and our combined friends and family have deepened our connection. We will have another special Valentine’s Day with lunch at Rotary and special surprises. We are keeping our love alive with our faith, family, friends, home and each other in Gilroy. We would just like to encourage those searching for the perfect match to never say “Never!” When you are least expecting it, love will surprise you and make your life so happy and full!
#7 Andrea Sllacci
My boyfriend Jacob and I have known each other for several years. We began to spend time together and always had feelings for each other; but our lives had kept us too busy for a relationship at the time. However, we have Gilroy to thank for our relationship now.
Back in 2012 I had begun traveling for work and lived in southern California while he lived in Salinas. I then decided to make the move back to my hometown, Gilroy in 2016. Once Jacob found out, he reached out and we immediately reconnected. From that day on I knew this was our time and we were meant to be together. Soon after we put a title on our relationship and officially became a couple.
I have always said, there are a thousand ways to say I love you around the world, but only one way to prove it and that is by actions. With the passing of close loved ones to lifestyle changes, we have been there for each other through thick and thin. Jacob is the one person who was by my side when I felt all the world was against me. He truly knows the way into my heart and gives me butterfly’s constantly.
From simple good morning messages to surprising me with random dates he truly is the definition of a gentleman. I always look forward to our lunch dates at Cielito Lindo, nights out at the District, and more. We spend every second we can together and every time our love blossoms more and more.
We are constantly growing as a couple just like the town Gilroy. We have local businesses to thank for some of the best days of our lives and are always looking forward to our next day out. Thank you, Gilroy for being there for us and watching us fall in love.
#8 Amanda Tomas
It all started with just one beer. My girlfriends and I were all single, and attended every country concert Shoreline Amp had in 2011. As we were walking up the lawn one of our buddies saw his friend and they did their manly handshake and this guy accidentally spilt his beer all over my Johnny Cash T-shirt.
All I could think about is, seriously dude! The night went on, and our friends wanted to meet up their friends again and of course that jerk was with them. He apologized, and we all went to bar afterwards and he bought me a drink. We danced, we laughed, we told each other about our lives.
Wondering how we hadn’t met before. We have been inseparable ever since. Then in 2015, he got down on one knee after throwing me a surprise birthday party and proposed.
And a few months later we purchased a house in the lovely City of Gilroy. In 2016, we wed at a local winery called Kirigin Cellars, and we tried to use all Gilroy vendors (Whitaker Portraits, Malfaldas Bridal, Itty Bitty Beauty Boutique, Golden Goddess Suntan, Old City Hall for the Bridal Shower and Rehearsal Dinner). For those who don’t believe in fate, at least believe in the magic of spilt beer.
#9 Andora F. Salcido
I think that my husband Christopher and I are the most romantic couple in Gilroy because even in the face of child loss and tragedy, we still continue to put each other first in our love and respect for each other. The day we received the news that our beloved daughter had passed away from a horrific car accident our lives changed. Already the odds and statistics were stacked against us lasting through child loss and we are beating the odds. We respect each other’s grieving space and support each other when we need a shoulder to cry on. Chris and I have an over 20 year love story starting at the age of 19 years old. Through 20 plus years we have always made time for each other whether it be going out together on a date for beer and nachos to reconnect or escaping to Napa for a romantic weekend all the while showing our children what a healthy, loving marriage looks like.
Chris is the thoughtful and the romantic one always my protector and lover. He is the one who plans surprises and themed getaways for us. My favorite romantic memory that my husband did for me was on our 5th wedding anniversary. When we got married one of my biggest regrets was not having it videotaped as we could not afford it. For months he was sneaking around as I would notice pictures and album missing periodically in the house then reappearing. Then on our 5th wedding anniversary when we were away in San Francisco for the weekend he had the hotel we were staying at set up a DVD player in the hotel room. After a night of dinner and a show he surprised me with a DVD he created. He scanned all 2,000 + professional and disposal camera wedding photos into the computer and he made a DVD time line of our wedding! Including our wedding songs playing as the slide show played! It also included the birth of our girls at the end. It was magical!
For Chris and I our form of romantic is making time for each other, having life experiences and being there for each other as we have shown each other the real meaning of the words ‘for better or for worse’ in a marriage. That is why I think Chris and I are the most romantic couple in Gilroy.
#10 Savannah Zamarron
My boyfriend and I have been together for quite some time and we have had an amazing journey along the way. We met 5 years ago and we could both tell that there was something more to us than a regular friendship. My boyfriend knew I wasn’t in the best place of life at the time, and he would be by my side every day to make sure I stayed as happy as I could in the time he was around me. I had pushed off the idea of becoming official with him for a very long time. I felt that the place I was in, in my life, would make us grow apart much faster, and that’s the last thing I wanted. At this point, we were best friends, and it was the greatest feeling for him and myself. Keeping in mind, this was 3 years after we had met, and we were still best friends. Everyday he would give me the best compliments, the best surprises, and give me the cutest gifts. He knows how much I love necklaces, especially ones with designed pendants, and he never failed to surprise me with a new one every week. To this day, I still have every necklace he gave me. Fast forward a few months later, it became official, and it was best choice I’ve made in my life by far. He made sure to keep his promise of always being there for me, always caring for me, and always loving me. Oh my, this guy is the sweetest of the bunch. He would always pick me a new flower everyday and I would make sure to preserve it and keep them all in my book to look back at them. To this day, I can still look at all the flowers he’s picked for me. As we became to grow with eachother, we both realized our differences and our similarities. Even though we had more similarities than differences, sometimes the differences would become a problem. With him being the sweet and down to earth human being he is, he made sure to continue to show and express his unconditional love for me and always reassure me that we’d be okay. Along the obstacles, we have reached a point in us where we are very happy with eachother. We accept eachother for how we presented ourselves to eachother when we first met, and we continue to accept eachother. He is such a romantic, and it makes me very happy to know I have someone like him as my significant other. As the days go by, he always comes up with another way to show his love to me, and it surprises me just like it did the day we met.
