Sixty years ago this past Valentine’s Day, George Miller and Geraldine Clegg – known as Chickie to all – exchanged wedding vows in a Brookline, Mass., church. Sixty years ago, before the modern conveniences of dishwashers, microwaves, cell phones and computers were around to safeguard the sanity of marriage – at least if you believe the commercial jingles and marketing propaganda.

How did this couple manage to achieve the milestone of a 60-year wedding anniversary? Perhaps Cupid’s bow not only found their hearts, but also their funny bones.

Although many factors contribute to a happy marriage, the Millers’ secret ingredient is the ability to laugh and spread their joy to others.

When Chickie and George began their lives together, they followed the typical milestones of many young families, moving from Brookline to a larger home in Weymouth and purchasing a cottage near Shadow Lake in Salem for summer family excursions. This soon-to-be permanent home began as a weekend retreat for the Miller clan with their children Chris and Gary enjoying the sort of Norman Rockwell childhood memories are made of. Well, Norman Rockwell meets Jerry Lewis.

Costume changes

You see, waiting to bust out of the working professional, Cub Scout den parents mold were Jo Jo the Clown (George) and Jerry the Hobo (Chickie), the couple’s alter egos.

When young Gary’s Cub Scout pack was in need of entertainment for one of their programs, George was talked into doing a clown routine. Having no experience and very little time to prepare, George found himself at a specialty shop where he found a suit and traditional clown face painting makeup to wear.

George remembers driving down Route 9 in full clown regalia on his way to the school for his first performance. The waving and grinning folks hanging out of their car windows as he passed by extinguished any stage fright and Jo Jo the Clown was officially born.

“He could be anything he wanted to be,” Gary said of his father’s transformation that began that day. How did Chickie take this turn of events?

“By being a good, supportive wife!” he said.

What better way to support her husband than to become a partner. Thus, Jerry the Hobo came into being, and many years of entertaining together began.

With Chickie designing their costumes and the word on the street about their brand of entertainment, the Miller family found their weekends engaged in church functions, various events around New England and visits to nursing homes and hospitals.

When they weren’t busy learning the skill of balloon art, magic tricks and practicing the many skits used in their performances, they worked full time, raised two children, participated in choral groups, and above all, found time to make each other laugh.

George and Chickie’s marriage revolved around providing for others. By finding an outlet for their cheerful and positive energy, they were able to share their warmth with organizations that know and reap the invaluable gift of laughter.

Chickie’s one-time employer, Boston Lying-In Hospital, was the grateful recipient of George’s Santa visit every Christmas and the Millers’ orchestrated wheelchair races in the hall. Various children’s hospitals delighted in the silly antics of George and Chickie’s smoothly performed skits.

George reminisced about Chickie’s tendency to remain out of the limelight until she put on one of her many costumes – her chicken outfit or her hobo garb. There was no stopping the show then as her behind-the-scenes personality took a roundly applauded central stage.

Watching each other work for laughs reaffirmed their mutual love and pride and strengthened an already solid relationship.

The surroundings the Millers often found themselves in while clowning were often somber until they visited. The resulting smiles of patients and staff alike were reward enough for their efforts.

“You get out of depression when you see the kids smile,” George said, explaining why he never wanted to take a break from clowning. “No matter how bad you feel, getting the people to smile is worth it.”

From the beginning

George and Chickie met in 1945 at a birthday party for a mutual friend. As George recounted, “It wasn’t quite love at first sight,” but they definitely got on well and spent the night laughing and talking. Actually, George admits it was Chickie’s girlfriend that was furiously making eyes in his direction.

“Her girlfriend wanted me; Chickie won me,” he said with a smile.

She, in turn, won the heart of this young, dashing man in a Coast Guard uniform – hook, line and sinker.

Four years ago, Chickie suffered a serious stroke, rendering her once lively and bubbly nature silent by taking away her voice. She continues to shine her positive light through her eyes and attentive posture to the many friends and residents who stop by her room daily to visit her in her nursing home.

“Without the gift of gab, people still want to be around her,” George said quietly, the admiration and love heard strong behind his words.

He visits her every day and spends time talking and reminiscing about their many experiences together as clowns and as husband and wife.

When he shows her pictures, she will laugh out loud and express her delight in the stories her keen mind still remembers.

Last week, George and Chickie’s family, which includes daughter Chris, her husband, Peter Morse, and daughter Caitlin, and the Millers’ son, Gary, his wife, Wayne, and their two children, Michael and Cassandra, created a surprise celebration with the dedicated staff of Chickie’s nursing home.

Valentine’s Day 2008, marking the 60-year anniversary of this extraordinary couple, was an opportunity for the many people they have touched over the years to show their appreciation and love to the couple who spent their lives together making the world a brighter place.

Held at the Warde Health Center in Windham, the family convinced Chickie to leave her room and go to the dining hall, explaining that she would feel better getting out for a bit. When the elevator doors opened, an unexpected scenario greeted the special couple. The room was filled with so many people, said Chris, because they have all witnessed how loving, caring and devoted her parents are to each other.

Strains of the “Irish Wedding Song” played in the background and the party atmosphere was highlighted by friends, family and a caring staff that all wished to shower this anniversary couple with blessings and love. Later, when Chickie gave her thumbs up “hit the road, Jack” gesture to George indicating her fatigue and need to return to her room, he gently extracted her from the festivities so she could rest until his return later that day to watch coverage of their celebration on television station WMUR.

In that quiet time after the celebration, George and Chickie were able to observe their life together from a vantage point outside of their own eyes, a powerful reminder of how full their marriage has been, and continues to be. When George sings quietly to his wife a song from their youth – their song, ”Could I Have This Dance,” Chickie sings along with him word for word, clear as day.

There is no explanation as to why she can sing but not talk, George said. The answer may be simple: Love always finds a voice.