Nancy and I were married on  July 1st 2008 at the Secular  Cathedral of San Francisco (aka, City Hall).  It was a very memorable day with a small gathering of family members there to support and celebrate with us. 

       We traveled to and from the City Hall in a very expensive yet economical limo, a San Francisco Municipal Railway Street Car, in memory of my Father who loved to ride public transportation.  Of course I honored the memory of my Mother by showing up on time and dressing nicely; she would have been very pleased.

       City Hall is a magnificent building with its soaring rotunda, columns and arches, embellished ceilings, walls and balconies.  We were married at the summit of the central marble staircase in the Ceremonial Rotunda.  Nancy was stunning in the dress she had been waiting to wear for nearly two years.  Her smile filled the building with a delightful glow, contagious to all in attendance.  I feel very fortunate to finally have her as my wife.                



The Wedding Party
Bride:  Nancy Shur; Maiden of Honor - Barbara Shur-DeDubovay (sister); Witnesses - Garin Rosen (son); Emerson Kelly (grandson); Cynthia Kelly (daughter-in-law); Noelle Remoaldo (friend)

Groom:  John Joseph Scannell;  Best Man - Joel Feller (nephew); Witnesses - Joan & Bruce Feller (sister & brother-in-law); Mary Hansen (aunt); Gabriel, Marissa, Sloane & Bodie (nephew & family) Miriam Harte (cousin).

Our Story
         Nancy and I were both born on the coast, she in Manhattan and me in San Francisco.  We met six years ago on the cyberspace dating website match.com.  Our first date was at a popular coffee shop in Scotts Valley.   We've been together ever since.  This is just the beginning of our story. There is so much more to tell, but I'll save that for another day.  - John

One Year Later - July 1, 2009
         We returned to  the City Hall Ceremonial Rotunda where we were married and shared a passionate kiss today (actually Nancy wanted a full blown make-out session,  however,  there were two sheriff officers standing there guarding the Board of Supervisors Chambers, which stole a little  romance from our moment). 

          Nancy challenged our "for better or worse, in sickness and in health" vows last September when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.   She had a lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation therapy, which concluded on Christmas  Eve.

           Our neighbors and friends were extremely supportive, graciously bringing us dinners several days a week during this ordeal.  Nancy is now taking drugs, which have some terrible side effects, and she uses a machine several times a week to stimulates her lymph nodes.  

          Our spirits were greatly lifted because our Grandson, Emerson, and  daughter-in-law, Cynthia, were able to travel from Denver to share the Holidays with us.  We, of course, spent Christmas with Aunt Mary, and took a rare trip to Tracy to visit my sister, Joan, and her family as well.  Nancy's sister,  Barbara, and Niece, Michelle, came from Huntington Beach to spend New Years.  

           We took separate trips back to Denver to visit Emerson, Cynthia, and Nancy's oldest son Corey.   I spent two weeks there playing Grandpa Handyman, and Nancy spent 10 days just being Grandma. 

          All things considered, we are truly blessed - especially to have one another.  - John         

WE FINALLY DID IT!

Aunt Mary was born in 1914

San Francisco City Hall
opened in 1915