CESAR ALVIAR: A Lifetime
Romantic
Cesar
Alviar used to tell his wife, Grace, that everyone is
born with a fate, and "your fate was to marry me." He saw
her dancing, long hair swaying, at a party in their
native Philippines and asked where she lived. He was
quiet and modest, she said, but very handsome.
It took him three years to win her heart. But he
stayed romantic. After 28 years, he still brought her
flowers and opened doors for her. He loved to take her
ballroom dancing. Three years ago, they renewed their
vows. Mrs. Alviar wore an embroidered Filipino wedding
dress. Their friends teased them "You still answered
`yes,' in spite of everything?" Mr. Alviar pointed out
that they had been married three times, in a civil
ceremony, the religious service, and then this one.
His wife always drove Mr. Alviar, 60, to the bus
station in Bloomfield, N.J., so he could get to his job
as an accountant at Marsh & McLennan on the 94th
floor of 1 World Trade Center. "He always kissed me
before he got out," she said. But on Sept. 11, he
hesitated after the kiss. "It was like he wanted to say
something, but because I was rushing, I just said
goodbye."
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