Math teacher Douglass Guyette will celebrate his 23rd anniversary in August. 

Guyette met his wife, Jackie,  when they were both 27, and he moved to Manitowoc. 

He had moved to Manitowoc to teach at Lincoln High School after teaching in the Peace Corps, and Mrs. Guyette moved to Manitowoc from Milwaukee to do Occupational Therapy two years prior. 

“We were two young professionals in a small city where it’s really hard to meet people,” said Mr. Guyette.  

During the time Guyette was hired, all new teachers were featured in the local newspaper. 

“Jackie saw my picture there and thought I might be a good person to get to know,” he said. 

At the time they met, Mrs. Guyette’s supervisor’s husband was the vice principal for Mr. Guyette’s school. 

“Together they hatched a plan to have Jackie and I meet after a basketball game in late fall of 1999,” explained Guyette. 

The following Monday, the vice principal called Mr. Gutette to his office before school started. 

“He asked me to close the door, so I thought I was in trouble.  But he just brought me in to let me know that Jackie was interested, and I should call her,” he recalled.  

They had their first date shortly afterward at a local pizza place. 

Mr. Guyette was drawn in by  her kindness, beauty and humor. The more they talked the more he found common interests in music and in movies with Mrs. Guyette. 

“We were really compatible from the start and we talked for hours,” he said. 

They married in August of 2002, had their son Riley two years later, and have been happy ever since. 

Guyette loves that she tolerates all his quirks and flaws. 

“Seriously, though, she makes me a better person just by being who she is,” he said. 

He described her natural empathy being reflected in the way she treats all people, young and old, with the dignity they deserve. 

 “She is also thoughtful, compassionate, well-read, faithful and wise,” he further described. 

Mr. and Mrs. Guyette  are great travel companions, concert companions, but, most of all, great friends. 

“In the past decade, we have each lost both of our parents, the four people who would always be our champions.  Fortunately I’m her biggest fan, and she’s my biggest champion,” said the math teacher.