Democracy Dies in Darkness

After 79 years of marriage, couple share their secrets of lasting love

June and Hubert Malicote, both turning 100 this month, adhered to one rule when they had disagreements

July 18, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
June and Hubert Malicote at their shared 99th birthday party last July. The couple have been married for 79 years. (Family photo)
6 min

Hubert Malicote kissed June Napier for the first time nearly 81 years ago as they sat on a living room couch. In his teenage mind, he thought he blew it.

“I got up real quick, and I thought, what have I done?” said Hubert, now 99.

It turns out, Hubert didn’t blow it at all: The two have been married for nearly 80 years — and according to both husband and wife, they are still smitten with each other. Through the entirety of their decades-long marriage, the couple claim they have never quarreled. Not even once.