This couple met at Akron AAA their first day of work. They've now been married 35 years

Gail and Rick Lee have a gift for longevity in both work and play.

On July 28th, the Lees will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.

But that pales in comparison to the 46 years they celebrated in April as employees of the Akron AAA.

That's 46 years exactly for both of them. The Lees started working at AAA the same day.

A 'spark' on the first day of work

The first day of work was pretty much the same day Rick Lee knew they were a match, he said in an interview Thursday at the AAA offices on Rosa Parks Drive in Akron.

"For me, there was a spark on Day 1," he said.

It took a little longer for Gail Lee — a few years.

Rick Lee demonstrated his interest early and often, but his efforts sometimes went awry, like the time he TP'd her desk.

"It had entirely the opposite effect than I wanted," he said. "I wasn't very smooth in the day."

When opposites attract

But he was persistent. For years, he was persistent.

For a time, Gail Lee wasn't on the dating market. She knew he was interested in her, but working in the same office was an impediment to them taking the next step in their relationship.

And, then, they had different personalities.

"At the bare bones of it, we're very different," she said.

They were both advancing in the organization, and at one time, their offices were moved to different locations of the old AAA building. That didn't sit well with Rick Lee.

A double date at Geauga Lake

The couple said a double date with AAA friends transformed their work relationship into something more.

It happened when Gail Lee took a chance on the man who had awkwardly courted her over the years, and they went to a local amusement park. There, she saw a different side to the man who had wrapped her desk in toilet paper.

"It was the trip to Geauga Lake," she said.

Another date followed, and the spark Rick Lee felt, with a lot of persistence, proved prescient.

The romance blossomed, and the Lees decided to tie the knot. They kept the wedding low-key and were married by a judge at the downtown Akron courthouse July 28, 1989.

"We didn't make a big deal out of it," Gail Lee said. "We just wanted to get married."

Keeping home life, work separate

So, what's the secret to their longevity?

The Lees keep their home life and work separate, they said. It's something they consider important in their relationship.

"You have to keep it separate," Rick Lee said.

She eventually became the head of the accounting bureau, and he now manages the AAA office.

Gail Lee said she and her husband are both homebodies, but they love their jobs and haven't thought seriously about retirement.

"If you find something that you like, stick with it," she said.

Do you know an interesting person in Greater Akron who would be Good to Know? Send suggestions to Alan Ashworth at aashworth@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: This couple met at Akron AAA their first day of work. They've now been married 35 years