Spottiswoodes celebrate 52 years of bliss
Friends of Kloofendal members Steve and Karin Spottiswoode celebrate 52 years of love, respect and commitment.
Local nature conservationists Steve (78) and Karin (75) Spottiswoode celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary on April 5, a day after Steve’s 78th birthday.
In 1971, Steve and Karin, known for the wonderful work they do at Friends of Kloofendal (FRoK), met for the first time when they were both students at the University of Witwatersrand going on a rock climbing trip in Magaliesburg. Karin was doing her second year in occupational therapy, and Steve was completing his Master of Science in Geophysics.
“On this trip, we were all eagerly waiting outside for one person who was running extremely late, and it was Steve,” Karin recalled.
“At the time, I was a dedicated and focused student and wasn’t interested in dating, but Steve’s charming persistence eventually won me over.”
After a few romantic invitations, she finally said yes, and they exchanged vows in 1973. Together, they’ve built a loving family with three children and six grandchildren, and their bond has grown stronger with time, making them the closest of friends.
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Over the years, Karin worked as an occupational therapist, helping handicapped and disabled children, while Steve was completing his PhD and being involved in mining research. Together they’ve relocated to quite a few places, and about 40 years ago, they moved to their home in Florida Park, where they raised their children and created memories together.
“We do everything together, and the big thing for us is support, respect, commitment, and being there for our kids,” said Steve.
Steve attributes his enduring love for Karin to her remarkable strength of character, impressive intelligence, and exceptional sportsmanship. On the other hand, Karin adores Steve’s effervescent personality, his contagious jolliness, and his quick wit, which always keeps her laughing. But what truly cements their connection is the wealth of shared interests and experiences that bring them joy and closeness.
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“We enjoy singing, dancing, and hiking, and we’ve recently started a new hobby, which is pickleball, that we do together,” they said.
Going forward, they wish to continue raising awareness and educating on nature conservation through Karin’s book titled Invasive Alien and Problem Plants on the Witwatersrand and Magaliesburg that she published last year.
“Our advice to other young couples is to agree to disagree, involve the kids everywhere and allow each other to go through challenges to see how you both handle it,” they said.
