City Commissioner Has Red-White-and-Blue Wedding in Huntington Woods

City Commissioner Jeff Jenks married his longtime love Eleonor "Lenlen" Madiclum on Fourth of July in Huntington Woods.

Mayor Ron Gillham conducted the ceremony Thursday at Scotia Park as a group of supporters looked on and blew bubbles while the couple said their vows following the city's annual civic awards.

The pair, who were introduced by friends, have conducted an international romance between Huntington Woods and the Philippines since 2007.

Jenks wrote about their connection in his 2012 holiday letter:

"I quickly discovered that this civil engineer by training, health and (non-governmental organization) worker by practice and continual community organizer loved and did the things that I also like to do," he wrote. "She wouldn't be home at 5 p.m. It might be 10 p.m. She was often the prime mover. She didn't get discouraged but took things as a challenge. She was committed to what in my tradition is called Tikkun Olam – making the world whole or adding value while you are still alive. It was a quick match."

The smiling pair, both former Kiwanis International club presidents, greeted well-wishers following the casual ceremony Thursday.

"As we say in Huntington Woods: mazel tov!" Huntington Woods City Commissioner Jules Olsman told them.

"I am feeling great," a beaming Jenks said, hand-in-hand with his new bride. 

"It's Fourth of July. It's independence – or maybe it isn't," he added, with a twinkle in his eye.