by Barry Pevsner

and Tamara Stokes

Special to DJW

During a celebratory dinner May 24, 2002, Sandra and Barry Pevsner were honored by their children, family and friends for achieving their golden wedding anniversary.

Throughout many health crises, the couple endured with love, respect and determination to see through the tough times and relish the good times together. "For better or for worse" wedding vows hardly seem a serious enough commitment.

Barry says their success was simple: "You have to find someone as special as my wife, then it's easy." He says every couple hopes they make it together for 50 years, but that it takes a team effort to make it through the peaks and valleys of life.

Sandra echoes his sentiments. She says their success as a couple, as parents, and their individual career achievements were the result of "doing what needed to be done and knowing we each could count on the other for support."

High-school sweethearts, the Pevsners met and married in Chicago, Ill., May 24, 1952. Barry volunteered for the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and became a journalist. The couple moved to the Atlantic Fleet Air Force base in Norfolk, Va., shortly after their wedding.

While Barry honed his reporting and writing skills, Sandra took a civil service job at the base. As her husband followed military assignments, Sandra returned to Chicago where she worked as a fashion buyer in the famed Merchandise Mart, owned by the Kennedy family. Little did she know those years of fashion experience would mean the difference for her and her family in the coming years.

While Barry honed his reporting and writing skills, Sandra took a civil service job at the base. As her husband followed military assignments, Sandra returned to Chicago where she worked as a fashion buyer in the famed Merchandise Mart, owned by the Kennedy family. Little did she know those years of fashion experience would mean the difference for her and her family in the coming years.

Barry went on to a successful public relations and communications career, but in 1970, at age 39, he suffered a tragic health set-back. Barry was struck down by a massive heart attack with complications, and was hospitalized for three months. Ultimately, his treatment required the amputation of his left leg.

Barry courageously returned to work, but his heart deteriorated so that he sought early retirement in 1977 from Sears, as the corporate news director for an 11-state territory.

Although Barry had been the primary breadwinner, Sandra found the burden of responsibility on her shoulders. With three pre-teen children and a very sick husband, she put her energy into her position with Neiman Marcus and quickly rose through the ranks to enjoy professional success.

She became the first manager of the Sakowitz Rive Gauche Boutique in Old Town in the 1970s and eventually became the couture manager at Neiman's downtown and Northpark locations. She retired as director of the exclusive 5th Ave Club of personal shoppers for Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria in 1991.

After Sandra's retirement, the Pevsners looked forward to enjoying the fruits of their hard work and commitment through the years. Another medical shockwave, however, altered their plans.

Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer. "Once the initial shock passed, I was determined not to let it beat me," says Sandra, typical of her take-charge attitude in the face of adversity. She opted for a radical mastectomy and with great hope and faith, beat the disease.

But once again, at the end of that fateful year, Barry's severely damaged heart finally gave out. On New Year's Day in 1992, Barry was airlifted to Baylor once again as a possible transplant candidate. Four months passed as he waited with Sandra lovingly spending her time by his side.

As she took a break from her vigil during the second night of Passover to spend some time with family and friends, the call came that a donor heart was available.

"It was the second night of Passover and we were in the middle of the second seder. Everyone just leaped from their seats, raced for their cars and rushed down to Baylor." Sandra kissed the love of her life, ever hopeful the surgery would be another answer to her prayers.

Barry's successful implant now alows him to spend his time as a speaker on behalf of the Southwest Transplant Alliance telling folks how important it is to have more donors.

"I understand that every two hours, someone in this country dies because an organ cannot be found," says Barry. "I am living proof of what can result when a family agrees to give the gift of life. Just as a miracle of transplantation is a family blessing, organ and tissue donation is a family decision. Families must know the donor's wishes."

His strong new heart has allowed them to continue writing their love story for the past 10 years. Sandra says that Barry has always been romantic. "We were so much in love. Not a day goes by that Barry tells me, at least a dozen times, how much he loves me. And if I cook dinner or do something for Barry, he always thanks me."