TERRACE PARK — Together they bring 101 years of marital experience to a marriage that is brand new.

        Hazen Master of Indian Hill had been married 51 years when his wife, Nancy Master, died in June 2000.

Hazen Master and his bride, Jane Harrier, both 75, married Saturday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. (Tony Jones photos) | ZOOM |

        Jane Freeny Harrier of Terrace Park had been married 50 years when her husband, Stanley Harrier, died in May 2000.

        Then they met in October 2000.

        “Would you be kind enough to have dinner with me?” Mr. Master asked Mrs. Harrier.

        Then he smiled at her before she could answer.

        “It's the first time I've asked for a date in 50 years,” he told her.

        They were married Saturday, on a brisk morning when the bright sun brought a brilliant glow to the stained-glass windows at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

        Their children and grandchildren were there, as were dozens of friends. They turned in their pews and looked over their shoulders as Mr. Master and Mrs. Harrier walked down the aisle. They watched as Mrs. Harrier became Jane Freeny Master at 11:21 a.m.

        There are more than 2 million marriages each year in the United States. But it's rare for the bride and groom both to be 75 years old.

        “It was a very lonely time,” said Mr. Master, of the time after his wife's death of emphysema. “Neither of us ever thought something like this would happen.”

Newlyweds Hazen and Jane Master walk up the aisle after their wedding Saturday. | ZOOM |

        They met at the home of Cary Griffin of Terrace Park.

        One of Ms. Griffin's best friends is Cici Grant, Mr. Master's daughter.

        Katie Griffin, Ms. Griffin's 11-year-old daughter, is friends with one of Mrs. Master's new granddaughters.

        “We invited them both over,” Ms. Griffin said. “Yes, it was a set-up. It was October 14, 2000. They just seemed right.”

        Mr. Master has two adult children and two grandchildren. Mrs. Master has three adult childrenand nine grandchildren.

        “Do you play golf,” Mrs. Master had asked Mr. Master.

        “No,” he said.

        “Thank goodness,” she said.

        They enjoy going to movies, taking walks, watching Seinfeld reruns, dining out and antiquing.

        Mrs. Master, a Democrat, voted for Al Gore. Mr. Master, a Republican, voted for George W. Bush.

        “When you reach this point in your lives, it doesn't really matter,” Mrs. Master said of the opposing politics. “What's important is a sense of humor and an ability to compromise.”

        Sue Dolan was her mother's matron of honor. Doug Master, Mr. Master's son, was best man.

        “It is such a blessing that they were able to find each other and start a new life,” Ms. Dolan said. “We have a whole new family.”

        The Rev. Wesley Hinton, associate rector of St. Thomas, performed the marriage ceremony. When the couple asked him to perform the ceremony, he told them they would need to come in for premarital instruction. Then the Rev. Mr. Hinton thought about that.

        “What do you tell a couple with 150 years of living experience?” he wondered. “Jane and Hazen have been twice blessed.”

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