Although Cupid would like to claim credit, it was match.com responsible for this Mad River Valley love story.
When widower Dave Goldstein responded to widow Nancy Wilson on the dating site from their respective New Jersey homes in 2016, their compatibility ratings were indicated to be strong. Both had enough experience to know that this rating does not always mean a thing!
When their ensuing talks resulted in good conversation and fun dates, the proverbial die was cast. Nancy stated that on their first meeting Dave walked toward her and smiled and she said, “This is it!” Dave liked that she looked pleasant and based on their exchanges, he was eager to get to know her and promptly offered his cell number. But how to make two very established lives mesh?
TRAINED AT JUILLIARD
Dave’s history was that he had trained at Juilliard and was an accomplished musician. He had played the bass, clarinet, and saxophone with famous orchestras such as the Indianapolis and New Jersey Symphonies and had substituted in Broadway theater orchestras. Additionally, he did gigs at a Lonely Hearts Club where he made good money but laughingly stated: “Women always wanted to take me home and my wife of 30 years was not a fan and strongly suggested a nine to five career!”
His chosen work with computerized machinery provided better hours and suited their family life with two young daughters. Nancy, not musically gifted, was a mother to two sons and had been employed by the American Cancer Society. She was every bit an activist who picketed every Friday for Pro-Choice in Morristown. Nancy and her husband of 50 years were avid skiers and had purchased a vacation condo in Warren in 2005 and had cultivated a nice group of friends who were important to her. Dave had not been skiing since his teen years and had never visited the Mad River Valley. When it was clear match.com had done a good job, she needed Dave to come to Vermont.
His first trip routed him over the Roxbury Gap in what he described as ‘full blown mud season” and he worried this would be the end of it. On his second trip he experienced what he called “Meet the Parents” as he was put to the test of gaining the approval of close Wilson friends, Judy and Stan Needleman and Caryl and Bob Hurwitz. Additional Sugarbush friends thumbs-upped the match as well and Dave liked everyone he met. Nancy was impressed that Dave was willing to relearn skiing and this affirmed he was a keeper despite his first ride up the Village Quad when he made the attendant slow down the lift so he could get on and then it got worse, she said.
SURPRISE TRIP
In September of 2019, Nancy arranged a surprise trip for Dave to Bonaire for a commitment ceremony presided over by a local travel agent. The hotel she chose took care of all the wedding details including a grocery market bouquet and welcomed the 100 guests they had met on the flight and guests who were staying at the resort. Only one longtime friend of Nancy’s witnessed the ceremony that would officially bind them together. Dave organized a hasty BBQ party attended by mostly Norwegian guests who had never heard of such a thing!
Later in 2019, as COVID struck the world, they decided Vermont should be their permanent home and set out to find a house. Their search, facilitated by eager friends, led to a Fayston home that had been on the market for five years and was way beyond what they hoped to find. When they toured the house, Dave remembers feeling it was so perfect he could die there happy! This purchase would soon enable many community gatherings for holidays, parties and special events and it is not uncommon for their long dining room table to seat 20 volunteers advocating to protect our freedoms, voting rights, and women’s health.
An extra bedroom is often offered to a very new acquaintance found on a chairlift wanting to stay an extra night or a Sugarbush employee who couldn’t get home due to the weather. Nancy has served as an ambassador at Sugarbush for 20 years and Dave for seven. Both have taken the job way beyond telling a guest which trail is groomed! Dave serves on the Ambassador Advisory Committee working as a liaison between the volunteer group of 100 and resort management. Additionally, he plans social events for the group. He is on the board of the Sugarbush Racing Club, with its 120 members and is involved in all their social activities. Nancy noted that, interestingly, her husband John had the same role.
‘NAILED HIM’
Early on as a homeowner and full-time resident, Dave was asked to go to a Monday breakfast at the Senior Center and that morning volunteer Nancy Emory nailed him! He said, “She was so nice I couldn’t say no to volunteering on Fridays as a sous-chef to Chef Claudia. This involvement led to his serving on the Mad River Seniors Board, running the Mad Reverse Ticket Raffle and chaperoning social outings with his Nancy – all things he loves doing.
When asked what they like most about each other, Nancy replied she likes that nothing bothers him and that he has such patience with people while lamenting she did not get these genes! When he plays the saxophone for her, she melts! Dave loves her sense of humor and the fact that they laugh at everything. Serious health issues have occurred in the last three years but together they have found a way to keep laughing and continue to be social and to be out skiing. They feel great gratitude for each other and for their friends who are so visible, caring, and helpful.
In the five years Nancy and Dave have been locals, they remain happily married and share a mutual love of all-things Valley and their feelings mesh with The Valley’s feelings for them. Well done, match.com!
