Long time Sunland residents Josephine (Josie) and Mario Cano celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 22.

Their story, like many marriages, started by chance and good fortune. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Mario and his oldest brother, Oscar Cano, decided to visit their relatives in Chihuahua, Mexico, where their parents originated.

Mario recalled, "We wanted to meet relatives we didn't know since we were raised in the United States after our parents immigrated to the San Fernando Valley in 1930."

While visiting their grandmother Mario was introduced to Josephine, who lived next door.

"I'll never forget walking into my grandmother's house and seeing Josephine seated in the living room," Mario said. "She was so beautiful!"

After returning home, Josephine and Mario corresponded by mail, and during Mario's third trip to see Josephine, they were wed. Mario brought his new bride back home to Sunland, where they have lived ever since.

Shortly thereafter, Josephine gave birth to their son, Mario Jr., and daughter, Laura, who sadly past away threeyears ago.

Mario went into business with his brother Oscar as sewer contractors, and retired after 43 years of doing business in Sunland-Tujunga and adjacent cities. Josephine kept busy raising Mario Jr. and Laurie, working as a waitress. Prior to her retirement, she worked 15 years in the cafeteria department at Mount Gleason Junior High School in Tujunga.

When asked what was the recipe for the longevity of their marriage? Mario said, "our mutual love and involvement in sports, specifically baseball and later softball."

Mario managed his son's Kiwanis and Little League teams, after which, he started Sunland-Tujunga's first American Legion baseball team. Mario also was a manager/player for the Sunland-Tujunga Merchants semi-pro baseball team, which he also started.

All along, Josephine was in the stands supporting the team and also acting as the team's official scorekeeper. Josephine recalls, "I never missed a game, even when I was pregnant." At times during their softball years she also shagged balls during batting practice before the game.

As time passed and both grew older, they stayed involved in sports when Mario began playing fast-pitch softball and later participating in the senior slow-pitch softball leagues in the San Fernando Valley.

As for Josephine, after years in the stands she finally gave Mario an ultimatum. I told him "play me or trade me," Josephine said laughing. Shortly thereafter, Josephine became the first woman to play on a San Fernando Valley senior men's slow pitch softball team.

Josephine played senior softball for several years finally hanging up her cleats at the age of 70.

"I was a pretty fast runner" Josephine said. "I was never doubled up on a double play, never!"

"She was faster than most of the men, particularly as we became older," Mario said.

Nowadays, Josephine and Mario enjoy retirement watching professional baseball on TV.Mario prefers the Angels and Josephine is an avid Dodger fan.

This scenario could lead to tensions in the household, but not for Josephine and Mario, as they are as much in love today as they were 60 years ago.