Seniors, meet your
very own sweethearts

By Diane Villano
Times Staff Writer

Love was blooming under the El last week — actually, at the Peter Bressi Northeast Seniors Center — during a Valentine’s picture party presented by the Frankford Business and Professional Association.
Frankford Y executive director Terry Tobin played photo stylist for three ladies in chapeaus, as he arranged their props — a red heart pillow and a bouquet of flowers for them to hold — while Frankford Thriftway owner Mark Gilbert snapped photos of the three friends.
Pauline and Richard Sanderlin posed for a sweetheart snapshot at the center, which holds a special place in their hearts. The couple met there two and a half years ago when Richard Sanderlin, 64, started coming to the center.
"I was attracted to her like a bee to honey," Sanderlin said.
Pauline Sanderlin recalled their first meeting.
"He sat at the table across from me. Then when he got up to walk away he came back and said, ‘By the way, I’m a widower,’" she said.
Sanderlin would walk her to the Frankford Transportation Center or take her to lunch or the supermarket. Before long, they were spending four days a week together, and in November 2005, the Rhawnhurst couple were wed at the center.
Couples weren’t the only ones enjoying last week’s party.
Northeast resident and self-proclaimed center goodwill ambassador Harry Marquis enjoyed the shindig, showing off his photo in its Be Mine folder.
"I wouldn’t have missed it for the world," he said.
According to Megan Forrestal, who is president of the Frankford Business and Professional Association and placed the valentine photos in folders for partygoers, about three-dozen people posed with the posies and several more enjoyed the sweet treats of cake and cookies.
The event is one of several the association has planned. At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, the business organization will sponsor a Mayoral Candidate Forum at St. James Lutheran Church, 5185 Castor Ave. On Saturday, March 31, they’ll sponsor Breakfast With the Easter Bunny at mozaic, 4524 Frankford Ave., with the time to be announced. For more information, call 215-535-5040. Joan Oliveto’s new restaurant will also be the site of a business-card exchange from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11. ••
Reporter Diane Villano can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com