Story and photos by Gareth Kelly
At 75 years old and after 41 years of marriage Andy and Jeanie Greensfelder are an inspiration. Full of energy, ear-to-ear smiles and with a zest and passion for life one sees in far younger people, this enigmatic couple, originally from St Louis, Missouri now reside in a quiet suburb of San Luis Obispo.
“We met on a blind date. I was working as a psychologist at a school,” said Jeanie. “Andy was on the board. Our boss would come round the office and ask if any of the single ladies were interested in a slightly strange divorced man.” 
This was the early 70s. Andy was a practicing lawyer and Jeanie a psychologist. After becoming married they continued to work until they both decided they wanted to start looking at ways to semi retire. After hearing about a small town in California and after a brief stint living in Boulder, Colorado, at 57 they moved to Cambria.
Both keen writers, in Jeanie’s case a poet; they were drawn to the strong writing community within the town.
“We’ve never wanted to simply live one life,” Andy said. “By the time we moved to Cambria we had pretty much retired. I still do some work especially helping seniors with legal issues and Jeanie helps with the Hospice in SLO. However the last few years we’ve both been really able to focus on doing fun things such as writing,”
Drop Dead Art, a novel Andy wrote, is a murder mystery focused on the theft of a three-dollar print, which is also the cover for the book. The real-life print Andy purchased for three dollars in 1965 in Los Angeles. It now adorns their living room wall.
“It’s a bit of fun, a real romp of a read,” Andy said. He is also working on another book as well as being a class member of this year’s San Luis Obispo Leadership program, now in its 24th year. Along with legal advice to seniors, Andy also chats with Dave Congalton on his radio show regularly and is always looking for new adventures.
Not to be left out, Jeanie is rather the accomplished poet. Her poems, considered very readable by many a critic have been featured in the writers almanac and have been read by none other than Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion fame. Her first book of poems, Biting the Apple, is to be shortly followed up by Marriage and
Other Leaps of Faith, no doubt documenting with great humor her and Andy’s many fun years together.
Asked what is the secret to a long and happy marriage, both agree laughter is a key component along with talking about things rather than letting them build up and as Jeanie said “Seeing and being seen and knowing and being Known.”
“These really can be the best years of your life,” said Andy. “We don’t really have too many set plans for the future and are just enjoying life for what it is, always enjoying each other along the way.”
Clearly still in love and with a wealth of tales, anecdotes, advice and hilarity to draw from its easy to see a couple so young at heart with many more years and adventures to come.
Jeanie’s books can be found on Amazon.com. Her new book is set for a mid April launch with a book signing held at Steynberg Gallery in SLO on May 17. Meanwhile Andy can be found gallivanting around SLO town looking for tales and adventures.
Gareth is himself newly engaged and loves tales of love such as this. How did you and your partner meet? Email him at