David Horvath '85 and Mary (Geno) Horvath '88
What year did you graduate from Delaware County Community College and with what degree?
David: “I graduated in May 1985 with an A.S in Engineering – the same day I received my Bachelor of Arts in Computer and Information Sciences from Temple University. I last attended classes at the College in the summer of 1983 and transferred to Temple in the fall. However, due to unforeseen complications, receiving my degree was delayed for nearly two years. I didn’t let that fact stop me, so I continued with my studies at Temple and it was just luck that I graduated from both institutions at the same time.”
Mary: “I was taking Liberal Arts courses at the College when I eventually met David, but have not actually completed all the coursework for my degree. I have continued to take classes at the College.”
How did you meet?
David: “I was walking between classes when a group came out of one of the stairwells and starting hugging people. I ended up chatting with them. I knew one member of the extended group from high school and ended up hanging with them in the lounge between classes. Mary also hung with the group on occasion and we seem to have made a point of annoying each other.”
David: “We started talking about what we wanted out of life and marriage around the third date. At that point, it wasn't necessarily with each other. As graduation approached it was obvious to me that I wanted those things with Mary. I even had a conversation with her parents to ask for their blessing.’
“I was trying to figure out how to make the proposal special and planned on asking her sometime during the summer. My graduation from Temple University was held at the old Philadelphia Convention Center and afterwards we were supposed to meet at one of the fountains outside the venue. I was waiting and looking around for her but instead only could find my parents and grandmother. Eventually, I remembered that there was a second fountain and taking a chance, walked over there and it was there I found her waiting with flowers for me and looking totally lost. She seemed really happy to see me and during a hug I asked her if she would marry me. It just seemed like the right time.”
How long have you been married?
David: “We’ve been together almost 26 years now. The decision was made to get married on the two-year anniversary of my proposal. "
"After graduation, I did not yet have what would be considered a full-time job lined up and was still living with family. Two weeks later, I was hired for a great position as a Senior Consultant with General Electric. One year and one week after graduation, we settled on our first house, deciding to stick with the original wedding date.”
Any exciting plans for the future that you would like to share?
David: “For our 20th anniversary, we went to Egypt, which in hindsight turned out to be good timing due to recent events, and then spent several days in England and Wales on the way home. On our 25th anniversary, we purchased a Volvo for Overseas Delivery – we picked the car up at the factory in Gothenburg, Sweden and then spent 21 days covering 3,000 miles in six countries. At the end of the trip, we returned to the factory in Gothenburg so it could be shipped back to the United States, where we picked it up two months later at our local Volvo dealer. We're currently planning trips to San Diego and back to France, specifically Paris and the beaches of Normandy, as well as a celebration for my mother's 70th birthday. She is also a graduate of the College.”
The Alumni Association would like to wish all our alumni couples out there a Happy Valentine's Day. We look forward to continually serving you whatever the need may be.