Looking for long lost love (Marilyn Concha)

by Paul Goedde
(Cincinnati, OH, USA)

Hello everyone:

I know this site originates in the Philippines and I am writing from the USA.

I am trying to find a woman that I almost married many years ago, and did not, because I felt I was too young to marry anyone. I broke her heart and regretted that decision for the rest of my life.
She did marry another man, came to the states, but the marriage did not last.

I have been unsuccessful in finding her in the USA, so I am trying a different approach.

I am on this site in the hopes of locating a relative of hers in the Philippines, that may know her whereabouts in the USA. Her maiden name was Marilyn Concha, her birthday is July 6, 1957, so she is now 52 years old. Below is my story:

This is a call for help from the entire Filipino Community in America. I am trying to locate a very special woman from my past, from many years ago. Her name then was Marilyn Concha and later was Marilyn Reuter. My name is Paul Goedde and I am a former US Marine.

I first met Marilyn in Olongapo in December 1976. There was an instant attraction. She was very beautiful. Over the next 2 1/2 months we were probably together about 2-3 weeks, as the ship I was attached to, pulled in and out of Subic Bay. In February of 1977 I had to leave the ship and go back to Okinawa. I promised Marilyn that I would start the paperwork to bring her to the states and marry her. I did, and then I stopped the paperwork in April 1977, and wrote her a letter. I tried to explain that at 19 years old, I felt I was too young to marry anyone. I broke her heart and regretted that letter for the rest of my life. I came back to the states in July 1977, went out to El Toro California for my last year, and was discharged in June 1978. I came back to my home in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Over the next few years I talked to Marilyn a few times as she called from California. Sometimes she called from the San Francisco area, sometimes from San Diego. After I broke it off with her, she met and married another Marine - James Reuter, and made it to the states. This was in the late 70's early 80's. I don't think she was happy, and may have been separated or divorced from James by that time. Maybe she was reaching out to me. I do not know.

I finally arranged to get out to California in July 1983, and met Marilyn in San Diego. We spent the day and night together. I took her back to her apartment the next morning, but she was upset that I insisted on walking her to her door. I followed her into her apartment, and she disappeared crying into a back bedroom, and closed the door. There were several men and women in the apartment, and I think one of them was Marilyn's boyfriend, by the questions he was asking me. Later she was probably faced with the dilemma of explaining where she was the previous evening. I left my phone number with one of the women, and asked her to have Marilyn call me if she wanted to get back together. I never heard from Marilyn again.

The years flew by. I married, raised 2 sons, and divorced a few years ago. Through those years, I would think about Marilyn and how she was. I always thought of her on her birthday - July 6, 1957, and when our song played on the radio. Our song was Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way" from 1976. Whenever I hear it, I flash back to a magical time in my life, when I had met a beautiful girl, and sadly let her go. My God she was a beauty. The kind of beauty that would make your heart ache when you saw her.

It is now November 2009 and I have not heard from Marilyn in 26 years. I tried once in 1986 to find her but was unsuccessful. Marilyn was a very pretty woman, so she probably remarried. Her last name is probably not Concha nor Reuter. I think that James Reuter and her had a child, and if so, that child would be about 30 years old now. She probably had more children and is possibly a grandmother now. She would be 52 years old, and her birthday is July 6, 1957. I think there is a very good chance she is still in California.

So, what do I want after all of these years ? I want to know if she has had a good life. I want to know if she is happy. I do not want to embarrass her. I don't want to make her uncomfortable with questions and contact from someone she knew a long time ago. My memory of Marilyn is a bittersweet one of a path not chosen, so many years ago.

I am also 52 years old now. My health is excellent, but none of us know when our last day on earth will be. Before I take my final breath, I would wish to see Marilyn and/or hear her sweet voice one last time. Our lives were destined to never be shared but for just a few days. I closed the door in 1977 and Marilyn closed it in 1983. I had my chance and threw it away. The fault was mine, as has been my lifelong regret.

Again, I ask the Entire Filipino Community to think hard if they know Marilyn and her whereabouts. Perhaps she is no longer with us, but my gut instinct tells me she is still alive somewhere. I'm sorry I only know her maiden name, first married name, and birthdate. My name is Paul Goedde and my contact information is as follows: pgoedde@cinci.rr.com, or northernsoul8@yahoo.com or cell phone of 513-885-1531. My thanks to all. Take care of yourselves. Paul.

Answer:

Hi Paul, you are such a sweet-loving man. By the way, we are based in the USA (Arizona). But this message board might help, God willing.

Don't push too hard. Believe you'll see her..

And trust me, you will. :)

Maria