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Monrovia Couple to Celebrate 72 Years of Wedded Bliss Saturday – June 14
Arcadia Weekly Jul 12, 2012
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By Terry Miller
-Photo by Terry Miller
Although Mildred ( Milly) Lapson and Herb Stevens are celebrating their 72nd Wedding Anniversary, they’ve actually know each other more than 75 years – and they still are talking to one another and making each other laugh. Not many can say that!
Quite an impressive figure, by anyone’s computation. In fact, I know of very few people who make it past the seven-year-itch, let alone 72 years of the marriage marvel that Milly and Herb have the benefit of today.
The Monrovia Weekly took a look at this atypical couple two years ago when they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
It was then, we dicovered part of their covert marital operational triumph.
We asked the couple what their particular recipe for success entailed: Milly quipped “When you’re handed lemons, you make lemonade….” “plus, we laugh a lot” she added.
It’s a simple recipe; one that many of us tend to forget in this fast-paced world. Accent the positive and have a bloody good laugh, whenever and wherever possible. Darn good advice Milly!
Herb Stevens, a linguist, and highly decorated World War ll Navy veteran, worked in Naval Intelligence during his service to his country. Mildred Lapson, a retired teacher of Fine Arts from Pasadena City College where she taught painting, drawing and Art History for over forty-five years, has received numerous accolades and awards over the years.
Before they were married in 1940 -when Lapson was only 17- she gave her intended an challenge. Lapson told him that no one, not even he, will be able to – nor should he try – to keep her from pursuing the art career for which she was so passionate.
Without so much a break in proceedings, her future husband Herb Stevens agreed, and has in fact become a steadfast partner in her business over the years doing many tasks, not the least of which is transporting paintings to countless exhibitions.
In Monrovia, in 1963, Lapson founded the Monrovia Art Festival that continues to thrive and encourage young artists today in San Gabriel Valley.
Listed in Who’s Who of American Art, Lapson’s work is also included in the Permanent Collection of the Ellis Island Museum, among several other Historic Museums, and the State Theater of California-Pasadena Playhouse. During the U.S. Bi-Centennial, the Department of Justice and Immigration chose my work to tour the U.S. in all the major museums and Presidential Libraries for three years. At the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Regan hosted a gala reception.
Stevens is a professional landscape designer. He transformed their wild acre of land that was once covered with tall weeds, into a veritable paradise. He created multiple fish ponds with cascading waterfalls, bordered by beautiful ferns. A free form swimming pool is surrounded by a sweeping lawn and flowerbeds. Trees frame the yard, but leave an open view to the mountains.
Milly and Herb have two married daughters, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. The secret of their extraordinarily long marriage is a combination of riding the rocky roads, keeping constantly connected with our family, and keeping up a laughing sense of humor. We complement each other to make a good team.
Happy Anniversay to Milly and Herb from all of us at Beacon Media and your extended family in Monrovia.
