Brinsmades celebrate 65th anniversary

Anniversary

Friday, July 31, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Juanita and Akbar Brinsmade E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Akbar and Juanita Brinsmade, formerly of Maryland and now of Biloxi, Miss., celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary June 16, 2009, and were honored recently in Mandeville, La., at a luncheon attended by their family and friends.

The Brinsmades delighted guests with stories of their meeting during WWII at the Shell Oil Plant in Houston, Texas, where they both worked in the development of new fuels for military aircraft. They added details of their simple War-era wedding, recalling that sugar rations were saved and given to a friend to use to buy the ingredients to bake their wedding cake. Questions were asked by the younger set about wages, hair and clothing styles "back then," prompting memories of sparse living accommodations, less expensive cars and different standards.

Akbar Brinsmade's profession in chemical engineering took the family to numerous cities, including New York, N.Y.; Los Angeles, Caracas, Venezuela, Charlotte, N.C., Madison, Wis.; Denver, Slidell, La., and Cumberland. Mrs. Brinsmade was occupied as homemaker and science teacher.

After raising their three children, the Brinsmades have remained involved in professional, community and political interests and travelled around the world. They continue to have adventurous spirits, rallying around favorite causes, researching and writing for scientific and political publications, surviving Hurricane Katrina as it swirled through their new Biloxi home, and, most recently, rebuilding that home.

The Brinsmades also enjoy visiting their widespread family. Their children are Anne Brinsmade of Prince Frederick, Charlotte Odom of St. Francisville, La., and Robert Brinsmade of Cocoa, Fla.

Grandchildren are Carey Young of Chesapeake Beach, Brian Lignelli and Tony Lignelli, both of Chicago, Nick DeFelice of St. Leonard, Joanna DeFelice of Lambertville, N.J., Taylor Odom of Paris, France, and Travis Odom and Kayla Odom, both of St. Francisville, La.

Great-grandchildren are Alaena, Jacob and Zachary Gadwill of Chesapeake Beach.

Symbolic and photographic gifts were presented to the couple, along with many wishes for continued health, happiness, future blessings and family celebrations.