Bill and Alice Cordtz, husband and wife for 63 years, won the "Healdsburg's Cutest Couple" contest out of a field of 10 very cute local pairs.
"I was absolutely stunned," said Alice Cordtz, 84, who volunteers in the library at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. "It was a lot of fun."
She and Bill Cordtz, 88, who have three children and six grandchildren, received 33 votes out of 85 total votes cast. They will receive a $25 gift certificate from Powell's Sweet Shoppe Healdsburg.
Barbara and Tim Tuscany came in second with 18 votes.
"Thanks so much," Barbara Tuscany said. "This has been a lot of fun."
The Tuscanys, both 48 (born 11 days apart) and who have lived in Healdsburg since 1988, will receive a $10 Powell's gift certificate.
Tim Tuscany works for the County of Sonoma as a psychiatric registered nurse, while Barbara Tuscany has a private graphic design business.
"Tim and I have been to hell and back a few times in my ordeal and a night out to celebrate Valentine's Day is what our marriage needs," said Barbara Tuscany, who is recovering from breast cancer and a subsequent toxic reaction to the chemotherapy drugs.
"Our love, faith and strength have been tested by God," Tuscany added. "We are blessed for every new day with sunshine -- and I am thanking God I am blessed to be living."
The Cordtzes, who are retired, were pictured in a circus set-up in their contest photo. They said they staged a circus to entertain their grandchildren using marionettes that Bill Cordtz had in storage from when he was in high school in the San Diego area.
The pair moved to Northern California in the early 1970s, and at different times lived in Geyserville, Cloverdale and then Healdsburg.
"This is the most beautiful place on Earth," said Alice Cordtz, who also worked as a technician in libraries at the University of California in La Jolla and when the couple were in the Peace Corps in Belize and the South Pacific more than 15 years ago.
Bill Cordtz worked in a variety of jobs in advertising, farming, school teaching and in a vineyard. He has a Ph.D in human behavior.
Thanks to all our "Healdsburg Cutest Couple" contestants. The field was truly very competitive in that all were so cute.
Happy Valentine's Day!
