Man And Woman Marry At Matawan Nursing Home, In Front Of Groom's Dying Father

MATAWAN, NJ — David Winston, 36, was elated when he proposed to his now-wife Meschelle Thatcher, 33, and she said yes. The couple was planning a large, elaborate wedding in California, where they live.

But his father, Michael G. Winston, 75, is not well.

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Winston currently lives at Meadowbrook Respiratory & Nursing Center, a long-term care nursing home in Matawan. He has dementia and is on hospice. He had his larynx (voice box) taken out when he was 67 years old, after doctors told him it was the only way to survive laryngeal cancer (which his son thinks was caused by exposure to asbestos). For several years, Winston used a voice box to speak. However, losing the ability to talk was devastating for his father, said his son.

"My dad has always been such a talker; he's a really great storyteller and communicator, in fact that's what he did for his whole career. He traveled the world and gave speeches to corporate leaders and business schools, and was also an adjunct college professor," said his son. (Here's Winston in his younger days.) "For that to be taken from him, I think it took the life out of him. He was diagnosed with dementia several years ago, and it's progressed pretty rapidly in the past year."

Winston knew it would be impossible for his father to fly to California. Also, his father's health recently took a turn for the worse.

"Doctors tell us he could go at any day," said his son.

So last Wednesday night, the couple took an overnight red-eye flight from Sacramento to their father's bedside. They obtained their marriage license from the Matawan town clerk the day they landed and told the nursing home they wanted to get married that same day, last Thursday, April 16.

Meadowbrook made it happen. They asked on the All About Matawan Facebook page for any companies to provide their services for the same-day wedding. The response was "amazing," said Winston.

Cheryl Cortopassi from Talulaloons decorated the center's recreation room; she quickly turned a hoola-hoop the seniors use for exercise onto a chuppah. Bougainvillea Mexican Restaurant and Bakery in Hazlet donated food; a local baker named Veli MarroQuin gave them a wedding cake. Melly's Delicious Desserts & More in Keansburg gave them more dessert. La Ranchera donated gifts and drinks; local photographer Tricia Otero took photos and videographer Andrew Conti took video. His daughter Amanda McCann is a pianist and she even learned the couple's wedding song on the spot ("Matrimony" by Tennis). She played it after they exchanged vows.

Winston's sister and her husband came from Morganville and his wife's mother flew in from California. Rabbi Laurence Mallenger from Temple Beth Shalom in Aberdeen officiated.

Winston said his father "was asleep when the ceremony first began. But when the rabbi started speaking in Hebrew, it woke something up in him. He heard the Hebrew prayers and his eyes opened and he started staring at us. He watched us for the whole remainder of the ceremony. He kept looking at my wife with such love and emotion. I think he knew exactly what was going on."

The ring Winston gave his bride was given to him by his father. It belonged to Winston's mother.

"He gave it to me when I was 11 or 12. When I showed it to him, he mouthed the word 'grandma' and teared up," he said. "My Dad is my hero. My mom walked out on us when I was 7 and he raised me and my sister alone. I couldn't imagine getting married without my Dad there."