A Love That Never Faded: Honoring 69 Years with Colleen and Tom
As Valentine’s Day approaches, many of us reflect on what love really means—beyond chocolates and greeting cards. In San Diego Country Estates, love often reveals itself through decades of shared memories, quiet devotion, and moments of courage that shape a lifetime.
One such story begins in 1955, when a young Navy ROTC midshipman named Tom Christensen from Minnesota refused to let tradition stand in the way of his heart. At the time, Tom was only a third-class midshipman, while his girlfriend, Colleen, had just been crowned Miss Sleepy Eye and earned a coveted invitation to attend the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Customs dictated that visiting queens would be escorted by senior cadets—but Tom couldn’t bear the thought of someone else taking her arm.
With equal parts nerves and determination, he requested a meeting with his commanding officer, a Marine colonel he had once helped with an unusual problem involving beetle damage on his porch. Remembering that favor, the colonel listened to Tom’s request—and agreed to make a rare exception.
Colleen had no idea what he had done.
On the night of the Grand Ball, as dozens of beauty queens entered the grand hall and midshipmen stepped forward to choose their escorts, Tom made his move. Dressed in full uniform, he walked straight toward Colleen and offered his arm. The look of surprise on her face, he later recalled, was unforgettable.
Two years later, in 1957, he offered her his arm once more—this time as they walked down the aisle together.
Their marriage has now lasted 69 years, built on trust, laughter, and a willingness to take risks for love. Today, Tom is 91 and Colleen is 89. They have been San Diego Country Estates homeowners for 18 years and built their home in the community in 2008. Over the years, they have lived in a condominium on the golf course and in Valley Center before settling into their current home.
Tom retired from the Navy in February 1985. After his military career, he founded Onager Support Services, working closely with the Navy to locate hard-to-find replacement parts for aging ships. Many vessels were more than 40 years old, and Tom specialized in finding usable parts from retired ships to keep others operational.
Colleen devoted herself to caring for their home and family and was known as an excellent cook. As the oldest daughter in her family, she learned early on how to prepare meals, something Tom especially appreciated. His favorite dishes included her stroganoff and lasagna.
According to Tom, their first date in 1955 wasn’t especially memorable. Colleen had just graduated from high school, and Tom was serving in the Navy. While walking with fellow servicemen, he noticed Colleen walking with her friends and couldn’t stop thinking about her. He caught up, offered her a ride, and the two talked for a while.
Colleen had been a cheerleader, and Tom was an alumnus of her school. “Our dating was a dream world for me,” Tom recalls. “It was a very happy time.”
Together, Tom and Colleen raised three children and are now proud grandparents to seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with another expected in June. Their middle child, Kelly, serves as their caregiver and prepares their meals. She moved from Dallas, where she had worked as a marketing executive, to care for her parents.
“I love to shop,” Tom says with a smile. “I am a shopper.” When asked what Valentine’s Day means to him now, he shared that he still enjoys buying gifts and picking out cards for Colleen. He also cherishes how much their daughters love the holiday.
Each year, the family hosts a Valentine’s Day celebration where Tom and Colleen can relax and enjoy being together while surrounded by loved ones.
Tom admits that losing many friends over the past decade has been difficult. Still, he remains deeply grateful for his good health, his loving wife, and his close-knit family. During their years in the Estates, the couple formed lasting friendships and enjoyed many cruises together. They even traveled to China, where Tom’s love of shopping continued as he searched for gifts to bring home.
When asked about the secret to their lasting marriage, Tom points to balance and faith. “You give a little and take a little,” he says. As Christians, they value communication, respect, and commitment to one another.
Stories like theirs remind us that lasting love is not built on grand gestures alone. It is found in showing up, standing up, and choosing one another—again and again—through every season of life.
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the couples in our community whose lives reflect that same enduring commitment. Their stories remind us that true romance isn’t found in perfection, but in perseverance, partnership, and a heart brave enough to follow its own path.
Phtotos courtesy of Tom Christensen.
