POTTSVILLE – A Schuylkill County resident wanted to combine a piece of history with his future Saturday at the Schuylkill County Historical Society.
Joseph Radzievich, 45, originally from Pine Grove, proposed to 33-year-old Samantha Rayborn on Saturday at the city’s former all-girls school.
It was a surprise he had been planning for a while. Saturday was special because it was the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year — and the groom-to-be wanted to show that “even on the darkest day of the year, our love for each other shines bright,” he said.
Joseph Radzievich proposed to Samantha Rayborn on Saturday at the Schuylkill County Historical Society. She said yes. AMY MARCHIANO/STAFF PHOTO
The couple, who live in Washington, DC, both have public school teachers as parents, and they share a love of education and its power to transform hearts and minds.
Saturday morning at the Historical Society, the couple took a quick tour before walking into a room where Radzievich fell to his knee and looked at Rayborn’s face.
He said how much he loved her and why he wanted to propose there.
“Within these walls, generations of women dreamed that they could be greater than themselves. They strove to break the glass ceilings and false boundaries of the world they were born into,” Radzievich said.
He asked her to join him on a journey to write their own history.
“These walls and this building and this community represent America’s past. When I look at you, you represent the future of America and the possibilities and the promise of a better life and a better world,” he said.
Her answer?
“Naturally.”
Samantha said she felt like something historic was in the making when he said he wanted to take a jewelry making class. No, he didn’t make her a ring.
The couple met online three years ago. He is an attorney and supervisory procurement analyst for the Department of Defense. Originally from Mississippi, she is an investigative attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
Among her many qualities, he said he loves her intellect. She believes he is attractive.
They haven’t set a wedding date.
“I feel very excited,” Samantha said of their future.
This is the first time anyone has gotten involved with the historical society, said Diana Prosymchak, executive director.
