College Sweethearts Jen & Kat LaTosch Find Love in Ferndale

Ferndale has its fair share of lovebirds, so we decided to check in with a few of them before Valentine's Day and ask them to share relationship and date night secrets.

Today, we take a closer look at what makes Jennifer and Kathleen LaTosch so sweet.

How long have you been together?

21 years.  We are college sweethearts and met at Albion.  We were best friends there for about two and a half years and still dating men when we first kissed.  Our first kiss happened when I was still in college but visiting Jen who had moved to Ferndale and was living on the Northeast side by Hilton.  We were at the Stop Spot with friends.  A few pitchers of beer later, we walked home on Jan. 10th, 1992.  After a heated argument about what we wanted in life, I asked her “what do you want?” and she said, “you!”  We kissed for the first time that night and never really looked back.    On August 23, 1997, we held a commitment ceremony in the backyard of our Ferndale home on the Southwest side.  It was one of our most beautiful and memorable moments.

What’s the secret to a successful and happy relationship?

At the end of the day, she’s the one I always want to be with.  She’s the one I want to turn over my troubles with, the one I tell everything to, the one I trust with all of me.  We have total trust, respectful honesty, and deeply rooted love.  And after 21 years, we know each other’s strong points and weak ones – and we’re still together, LOL!

What famous couple would you compare yourselves to?

If Jo from Facts of Life got together with Sally from When Harry met Sally, and had a couple of kids - that'd be us :)

Why did you settle in Ferndale, and how long have you lived here?

Jen originally moved here right out of college in a rat trap house with four others.  I stayed with a friend in the apartments on vester.  Then we moved away for three years, renting.  When we were ready to buy, we came back to Ferndale – for a lot of reasons: the unique and historic housing, the LGBT community, the central location (close to the city, burbs and all major highways), the friendly community feel.  We’ve lived in Ferndale a total of 17 years (including the three years out).

What’s your favorite romantic night out in Ferndale and why?

Probably my favorite was a weekend when the kids were with the grandparents so we could work on renovating parts of the house over a weekend.  It was summertime and we worked hard all day long, then showered and walked into town for lovely candlelit dinners at Assaggi and Via Nove (at the time, though we now also enjoy Local).