ETHERIDGE m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-06-04 published
Nicola ETHERIDGE and Joseph
SPINOSA -- Match:
By Judith TENENBAUM,
Saturday,
June 4, 2005, Page M4
Some couples just want to have fun, and for Nicola
ETHERIDGE
and Joseph
SPINOSA, the ties that bind include making special
occasions contagiously funny. "We go pretty crazy at Christmas,"
Ms. ETHERIDGE says. "But we both love Halloween."
Spotlights and gravestones appear on the lawn of their century-old
home every October 31, along with cobwebs and scary monsters.
"We try to get the kids to scream. It's a riot."
"It's all for the children, and we're both kids at heart," says
Mr. SPINOSA, who describes himself as "an oldie, goldie fan"
who often dons an Elvis wig and costume to dish out treats.
Halloween, 2004, will probably remain their most memorable. With
October 31 falling on a Sunday, Mr.
SPINOSA planned his marriage
proposal for Saturday evening at a dinner theatre in a legendary
Stouffville haunted house. But Ms.
ETHERIDGE felt under the weather,
and he had to wait until their usual exchange of gory gifts on
Halloween morning for his opportunity. Rummaging through her
gift bag, she pulled out a skull candle, plush bat and a small
white box containing a mock severed finger wrapped in blood-like
stained cotton. Mr.
SPINOSA gingerly removed the cotton to reveal
a diamond.
"I freaked out, threw the tissue and we hugged and kissed," she
laughs. The tissue was ignited by a candle. "It kind of killed
the mood, but made it memorable."
The mirth in their relationship makes up for a rocky beginning.
The pair, who met when Mr.
SPINOSA was a supplier to the company
where Ms. ETHERIDGE worked, Reaction Promotions Inc. (now called
Accolade Reaction Promotions Group), initially dated for three
months, just long enough for Ms.
ETHERIDGE to become vulnerable.
Mr. SPINOSA closed his firm, began work at hers, and for some
murky reason about business and pleasure not mixing, abruptly
ended the budding relationship.
"I knew back then he was the one," Ms.
ETHERIDGE says.
The transition to a mere collegial Friendship left Ms.
ETHERIDGE
with a plummeting heart.
"I stayed away and looked elsewhere," Mr.
SPINOSA says. "The
Friendship we maintained was better than any relationship I'd
experienced and eventually I came to my senses," he confesses.
Two years later, with some trepidation, Ms.
ETHERIDGE gave him
a second chance. The next five years were almost idyllic as they
continued to work together at a Toronto promotional products
company, she as operations manager and he as marketing manager.
Mr. SPINOSA continued to spend much time with the 30-strong cadre
of buddies he had kept since attending St. Michael's College
School and the couple added a 600-square-foot deck to their heritage
home, big enough to fit all their Friends for annual keg parties.
The fun times rolled until a pivotal moment at a friend's wedding
in September, 2004. A teary outpouring by Ms.
ETHERIDGE in the
church blanched Mr.
SPINOSA. "
It's my birthday next month and
I'm sick and tired of waiting for you," she told him.
Motivated, he reviewed the situation. "I have a large family,
a lot of nieces and nephews that are a huge part of my life and
seeing Nicky childlike with them I realized the excellent qualities
in her and that was part of moving forward."
Wedding planner Cynthia
MARTYN located a perfect venue, the Capitol
Event Theatre. Says Ms.
ETHERIDGE, "I'm 36, I didn't want a fancy
wedding, just a big party with an Elvis twist, a band and dancing."
Mr. SPINOSA, 38, a collector of Elvis memorabilia with a bust
of the rock legend in his office, notes, "Her mother told me,
as a kid, Nicola used to impersonate Elvis and she never thought
it was weird. It's just a little connection we have."
On May 13, Reverend Dorian
BAXTER, who is also an impersonator known
as Elvis Priestley, officiated (assisted by Laura
STANGRET,)
as the couple recited traditional vows in front of their guests.
After cocktails, Elvis Priestley reappeared, this time complete
with white jump suit, sunglasses and guitar to croon Love Me
Tender for the couple's first dance.
"There is some trepidation as you buck tradition," the bridegroom
notes, "but I wanted people to get a glimpse of how we are as
a couple."
E... Names ET... Names Welcome Home
ETHERIDGE - All Categories in OGSPI
ETLIN m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2003-11-29 published
ETLIN /
KATZ -- Sonia and Cal
ETLIN are thrilled to announce
the engagement of their son, Brad to Aliza, daughter of Nina
and Eugene
KATZ of New York. Proud grandmothers are Esther
SINGER
and Meme DUBLER.
E... Names ET... Names Welcome Home
ETLIN - All Categories in OGSPI