Names: Jon Dogar-Marinesco and Manuela Michailescu
Ages: 81 and 76
Town you live in: Kerhonkson, Town of Rochester
Occupations: Jon — cartoonist, stage/graphic/web designer
Manuela — theater/film critic, marketing/advertising executive (retired)
1. You and Jon are such a great couple, Kaynahorah, always having a good attitude despite the ups and downs life brings. How did you two meet? Was it love at first sight?
When meeting Jon in 1976, Manuela said, he was already considered one of the top four black humor cartoonists in the world: “The period following the World War I favors the black humor, first through the Americans (Chas Addams, James Thurber), then through the Europeans (Roland Topor, Jon Dogar-Marinesco)” — Marian Popa, “Comicologia,” Bucharest: Univers Press (1975). As fame is usually associated with age, Manuela was surprised he was so young. They met working for a performance at the Children’s Theater in Bucharest; Manuela was in charge of the repertoire/advertising and Jon was invited to do the stage design, poster/playbill for the play.
2. And how did life evolve? What brought you both to Kerhonkson from worlds away?
Jon left Romania in 1978, Manuela in 1980, when they got married at the City Hall in Manhattan, so close to the Statue of Liberty. When Manuela graduated in 1988 with an MBA in Marketing/Advertising, she joined Point Blank Advertising, a company founded by Jon, which specialized in travel advertising for National Tourist Offices. Malta, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia were some of the clients. When rent for their Fifth Avenue office in Manhattan doubled, in 2001, the decision was made to move out of New York City.
3. And you two operated Old Brick House antiques for how long before the new chapters in your lives began?
Old Brick House antiques was incorporated in 2002 and is still active.
4. You are a beacon of light in the Town of Rochester as the Town Photographer. And how exciting, as Jon designed the Town of Rochester Veterans Park, that he will finally have a commemorative plaque dedication for his work on Veterans Day?
“The work for the Veterans Park is the most meaningful thing we did in town” — they said. During 2008-2011 Manuela was Councilwoman and Town Board liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission while Jon was a volunteer member of the HPC. Having the Veterans Park completed took hard work and even tears. The dedication of the Veterans Park was on November 11, 2011. Manuela persevered (and got great help from Town Supervisor Erin Enouen) so that a plaque recognizing Jon’s design and the work of the team of volunteers lead by Thomas-Hall Davis (including Mike Deiter, Jim Dennin, Alan Feinberg, Mark Feinberg, Wayne Gray) is going to be installed on Veterans Day 2026, 15 years after the Park’s dedication.
5. And life has not been easy for you two, with Jon’s injuries, as you say that freedom is not free. Tell us about what you two have been going through, and how you have persevered?
Following a fall in our yard on June 14, Jon was airlifted to Vassar Brothers hospital in Poughkeepsie, had spine surgery and continues his recovery in rehab facilities.
This experience brought shock, pain, horrible and scary moments but also discovering the best of humanity: first responders, doctors, angel-nurses, staff, occupational and physical therapy specialists; friends from four continents who encouraged, prayed, shared their experiences, helped with transfers or other needed trips, became our family and we thank them all.
6. You two have been together for how long? What is the secret of a great marriage, and a life well lived Kaynahorah?
“We’ve been together for 50 years! Even working together… Out of 50 years, 25 we lived in Kerhonkson.
Our marriage ‘secrets’: love and friendship, respect and appreciation, partnership, forgiveness, trust, common interests and… laughing at all times!”
7. How do you two stay hopeful and thankful with all that is going on in the United States and the world?
“We both escaped from a Communist country, Romania, and we don’t want to die in a Communist America. We find hope seeing that young people are more and more appreciative of values America was built on.”
8. Both of you enjoy the community you live in and giving back to that community. What brings you so much joy?
Volunteering, contributing to the history of our town, documenting events, activities and capturing unique moments in children’s lives… And, of course, friendships.
9. And after years together, as Helen Reddy used to sing, you and Jon against the world, what have you two learned about love, life, and not sweating the small stuff?
Focus on clearly set priorities, first of all health (yes, health, not wealth!); keep only authentic relationships, avoid everything toxic, stay positive, appreciate a modest, simple life, create and share joy, be grateful… And always look for photo opportunities!
10. And if community members would like to reach out to you and Jon, thanking you for capturing the faces and memories of the Town, and thanking Jon for his service, how can they contact you?
Jon: jon@oldbrickhouse.com
Facebook (2 separate pages): Jon Dogar-Marinesco and Jon Dogar-Marinesco / Cartoons.
Manuela: manuela@oldbrickhouse.com, Facebook: Manuela Michailescu
