Nadia and Bart...10 years later.
David Berry, April, 2006.

The 10th anniversary symbol is...aluminum.  Okay, most couples can find more romantic symbols for 10 years of marital bliss, but that's what we have.

April 27, 2006 is the ten-year mark for Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, who tied the knot at a civil ceremony in Romania.  The formal, and lavish, church service was performed the next day, with the appropriate reception that evening.

And as many gymnastic historians noted, that summer would mark the 20th anniversary (China) of Nadia's historical performance at the Montreal Olympics, where she marked seven perfect scores of 10.  Mathematicians were ecstatic.

Now in 2006, with Mr. Conner presenting Mrs. Conner with a bouquet of aluminum flowers (left), and three decades (Pearl) separation from Montreal, another element will be mixed into their universe.

Dylan Paul Conner, a future 6'5" 250 pound linebacker for the Pittsburg Steelers, will vault into this power-of-ten anniversary cycle in early July.

For fans who have followed Nadia's life so closely, such anniversaries tied together creates an aura around these events. Marking her Olympic achievement every ten years is something every news organization can do.  But we have Nadia and Bart's life together. Their professional pursuits, so open to the public, enriches our admiration of people who do not sit on their laurels. And with baby Conner, we look forward to sharing their joy with each additional decade.

So, 30 years hence, at Dr. Dylan's wedding, Nadia & Bart's 40th (Ruby), Montreal's 60th (Diamond), we can all smile and think, "Cool."

Check out the wedding articles from 1996 in the LIBRARY, and PHOTO sections.

Gymnastics trivia: Nadia's leotard number at the Montreal games was 73. What do those two digits add up to?