May I have this dance?: Ormond couple has first dance at Valentine's Day prom event

John 'Jack' Mertens and Elizabeth Rae Tomei have been together for several years after meeting at Brookdale Ormond Beach. On Thursday, Feb. 13, they shared their first dance.

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It was love at first sight.

Four years ago, 93-year-old John "Jack" Mertens saw Elizabeth Rae Tomei walking down the hall at Brookside Ormond Beach. He thought she was beautiful. 

He mustered up the courage to ask Tomei, 91, to eat lunch with him.

"The fuse was lit," Mertens said. 

That was the beginning of their love story. If you ask the couple what they love about each other, they say "everything." They love the same things — food, music and their dog Mitsy. 

"He's just the nicest person," Tomei said. "He's very thoughtful — even though he can't dance."

The Ormond Beach couple shared their first dance together during the Valentine's Day Prom event at Brookdale on Thursday, Feb. 12. Tomei has danced all of her life. 

Mertens needs practice. 

"I told him, 'We're going to put the radio on and we're going to practice in the room,'" Tomei said. 


Community support

Every month, Brookdale hosts a family night event, where residents can invite friends and family. They always have a different theme and they thought a prom would be fun for their residents, said Sales Manager Vicki Stevenson.

"We want them to feel special and feel good about themselves," she said.

What they didn't anticipate was the outpouring of support received from the community. Stevenson posted on a local community Facebook group asking for donations of dresses and men's jackets for the assisted living facility.

That led to donated corsages and boutonnieres, hair and makeup, and manicures and pedicures for the residents. 

Brookdale Ormond Beach Executive Director Laura Sabo said seeing the residents enjoy themselves at the prom almost brought her to tears — seeing the residents dressed up, smiling and remembering what they were like when they were young.

"I want to say thank you to everybody in Ormond who supported us," she said. "We couldn't have done it without you. We're so blessed for all the donations and all the love."

It makes the staff happy to see the event, and the community, come together, added Michelle Terwillinger, health and wellness director.

"Every time we do events like this, all the hard work is worth it to see the smiles on their faces," she said.


Love is in the air

Mertens was the first to say "I love you." 

"I told God, 'I'm not looking,'" he said. "But if you find somebody for me — OK."

He hadn't been interested in anyone. Until he met Tomei. 

On Sept. 8, 2024, Mertens proposed to Tomei. While not legally married, they are married "in heart."

Their advice to new couples? 

"Just know each other and have a lot in common," Tomei said. "That helps a lot."

 

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