BLAIR AND ELLEN WILLIAMS
FIFTY GOLDEN YEARS: A CELEBRATION
By Rochelle Almeida

On December 9, 1961, the lovely Ellen Gardner married a man who, in the Anglo-Indian world, needs no introduction—Blair Williams. In their wedding picture, Ellen gazes radiantly at the camera while a beaming Blair stands protectively behind here. For as Blair puts it, they came from opposite backgrounds and although it was their common Anglo-Indian heritage that drew and bonded them together for half a century, Blair's middle class roots were in contrast to Ellen's royal ones—she traces her descent partly from Indian aristocracy.

However, to look at the two of them today, you'd think they'd tied the knot only a couple of decades ago—for Blair and Ellen were at their best on Sunday, December 4, 2011, where they gathered their nearest and dearest friends at the Crown of India restaurant near Princeton, New Jersey, to celebrate fifty enjoyable years. For, as their son Julian said, while raising a toast to the couple, ‘anyone can stay married for fifty years; but to have had such a good time together for that length of time…well, only a marriage made in heaven can be so blessed.'

Cutting their 50th Wedding Anniversary cake

1st Dance

A buffet table groaned with appetizers as guests circulated, drinks in hand, and congratulated the family. Later, over a sumptuous Indian buffet dinner, we renewed acquaintance with old friends and made new ones. What was striking was the diversity of folks present: from old neighbors, (from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where the Williams spent the bulk of their married lives) to new ones (from Monroe Township, where they moved after Blair retired from AT&T), friends (from as far away as England, Canada and various parts of the USA) and colleagues (from years spent in the fields of engineering and education). The couple floated on a Friendship High throughout the evening, particularly when the kudos began.

Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass

Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass with friends

From far and wide, folks recalled their long years of association with Blair and Ellen injecting the accounts with genuine affection, humor and heartwarming nostalgia. When all was said and done, Blair offered a simple but quite magnificent tribute to his wife who has, over the decades, supported his plans, his enthusiasm and his joie de vivre .

Speakers recalled Ellen's delicious home-cooking, her fund of jokes and wacky anecdotes and the unflagging support she has offered her husband and son through the years even as she devoted herself to grade-school teaching. “Truly,” said Blair, “she is the wind beneath my wings.”

Julian pointed out that his parents' marriage has been for him a testimony of the fact not that life-long commitment is possible, but indeed how to make it possible - by injecting laughter, spontaneous travel and nurturing global associations into their shared lives. Mention was made of their passionate endeavor to improve the lives of less fortunate Anglo-Indians in India through indefatigable fund-raising and the publication of quality books that will remain a lasting testament to a unique Indian sub-culture that has planted immigrant roots around the world.

On the dance floor

Good friend and golfing buddy, Indian Consul General, Prabhu Dayal raises a toast!

Guests enjoying a dance

In-between the drinks, dinner and dancing, guests were invited to peruse the Treasury of Memories gleaned by the Williams' friend, Margaret Deefholts of Vancouver, Canada, who had encouraged their large circle of loved ones to contribute accounts of their connections with the Golden Couple. It resulted in a voluminous tome that included reminiscences from many people across the globe.

Ellen and Blair with friends

Blair, Ellen and son Julian

Meanwhile, determined not to send their guests home empty-handed, Blair and Ellen custom-selected 25 of their favorite love songs and presented it to friends on their way out together with slices of a special fruit cake baked for them by a friend in Canada. It was a particularly sweet send-off gift and much appreciated by those who had driven long distances to salute the couple on their spectacular innings.

We can only pray that Gold will turn to Diamond and Platinum.

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