I am a...
Professional/Serious Amateur

Photograph Description
This is my grandmother, Ann Betar—lovingly known to our family as Sito, Arabic for grandmother. I photographed her here at my home on her 100th birthday, September 20, 2015. At the time, she and my grandfather had been married nearly 83 years and were recognized as the “Longest Married Couple in America.” In this moment, Sito listens to a toast given by her eldest grandchild and namesake, Ann.

Over the years, I’ve taken countless photos of my grandmother, but this is one of my two favorites. By chance, Sito's chosen party seat was directly in front of one of her own paintings—a group of irises she had long before gifted to her daughter, my mother, who was known in town for her blooming iris garden just outside. The visible corner of the painting, with its soft violet background, peeks over Sito’s shoulder. My mother had passed away nearly a decade earlier, but in this moment, the three of us—Sito, my mother, and I—felt quietly joined through art, memory, celebration, and presence.

I believe this photo captures the essence of how Sito lived her life: with a smile on her face, light in her eyes, and grace in her heart. I’m currently producing a documentary film about my grandparents —this image is just one frame of their extraordinary love story, which lasted nearly 86 years.



Photograph Place
Fairfield, CT

Photograph Date
September 20, 2015