Sweethearts Remain by Donna Mikulandra
The Sweethearts Remain section has been well received and continues to highlight the more romantic side of reality. Recently, the WSAA received a letter that proved that sweethearts separated, given enough time, can re-unite.
Life’s paths twist and turn and often times lead right back to where we started. It can lead us down paths full of adventure, creating worlds that seem miles from where we began. Fate has been known to put high school sweethearts back together even after 50 years apart. Such is the story of James Wilkinson and Emilie Kytta-Yanesh-Wilkinson.
Both graduates of the class of 1953, Jim and Emilie were Vice-president and President of their class and King and Queen at their Senior Prom. Upon graduating their paths changed and years would pass before they saw each other again.
Emilie went onto college, became a teacher, and married former Wickliffe Mayor and Wickliffe graduate, John (Jack) Yanesh. Together they raised four children and eventually made their home in Florida.
Jim went off to the Navy after gradation and then on to college where he obtained a BS, MA, and PHD. Jim too, became a teacher, married and retired in 2001 after 40 years. He and his wife raised 3 children.
Emilie and Jim lived full and separate lives and only saw each other twice between the years 1953 and 2001, once in 1956 and once again in 1973.
Time continued to pass and in the year 2000 Emilie lost her husband Jack to congestive heart failure.
Meeting for the third time in 50 years, Jim and Emilie reconnected as sweethearts and were married in March of 2001.
Jim’s letter to WSAA jovially describes their relationship as a story book romance, and he said Emilie makes his life “one hell of a great time.”
The sweethearts reside in Daytona Beach Florida and although Emilie’s health is being tested at this time, they are enjoying their renewed status of high school sweet- hearts.
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