Football fans who honeymooned in Canton return 50 years later

Story Courtesy of CantonRep.com

Denny and Sherri Trimmer, holding hands and decked out in Cleveland Browns gear, returned Friday to the place where they celebrated their marriage in 1969.

The New Philadelphia residents were greeted by their wedding photo on the marquee at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, site of their very brief honeymoon 50 years ago.

“I was in tears when I saw that,” Sherri Trimmer said.

Friday’s visit was the result of Sherri Trimmer emailing Pat Bearducci, manager of guest services, who greeted the couple with an anniversary cake.

They also will receive a video of their visit, produced by HOF Productions.

“I found out I knew the family after they contacted us,” Bearducci said. “I just thought it was so cool that they spent their honeymoon here.”

George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame CEO and executive producer, said the museum fields a number of commemorative requests. Recently, a terminally-ill guest who worked security at Cleveland Browns games was given a tour, interviewed by HOF Productions and is set to receive a call from Jim Brown, his favorite player.

“Young and in love”

The Trimmers were high school sweethearts.

“I was on the quarterback, she was in the band,” Denny Trimmer said.

“We were only 19. We were young and in love,” his wife recalled. “He was only working part time at UPS. He was too young to drive.”

Two days before they married on Oct. 18, 1969, Denny Trimmer received an offer to work full time. But he had to start Monday, which only gave them 1 1/2 days to celebrate.

“It’s not many guys who could get away with taking their wives to the Hall of Fame for their honeymoon,” he said with a laugh. “It was a running joke for years: ‘Are you kidding?’ No, I’m not kidding.”

“He’s taking me on a real honeymoon,” Sherri Trimmer said.

“Baseball Hall of Fame,” Denny Trimmer replied, to laughter.

Sherri Trimmer said she was astonished by how much the museum had grown. They posed for a photo beneath the statue of Jim Thorpe, which once greeted visitors in the lobby.

“When I was here, they had the rotunda and one building,” she said. “You walked in, and they had a table, a registry. It was the first place where I signed my married name.”

20 coaches

The Trimmers’ marriage has outlasted approximately 20 Browns coaches.

What’s the secret?

“Keep God first in all things, including the marriage,” Denny Trimmer said. “It’s give and take; it’s a lot of work.”

“It’s always easy to say, ‘Oh that’s it, we’re done,’” his wife added. “When you love somebody, you’re gonna have hard times, but you work through those. My dad told me, ‘You’d better be sure he’s the one because you’re not coming back’ - and I was the favorite! Back then, it was forever.”

The Trimmers have a son and a daughter and two grandsons - all Browns fans.

“Our son has season tickets,” Denny Trimmer said.

“We love Baker (Mayfield),” Sherri Trimmer added. “Even if he doesn’t win another game, he’s brought more excitement into our lives than we’ve had in a long time. We’re diehard fans. Even when they were at their very, very worst, we were there, pumping them up.”

Denny Trimmer noted that he had a tryout with the Browns in 1974 as a punter against Don Cockroft.

“Our kids are fans, our grandkids are fans,” he said. “It’s a family tradition”

“They really didn’t have a choice; that’s how they were raised,” his wife said, laughing.

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Trimmers are going to Las Vegas, and later, on a cruise.