Cover Article | By Jocklyn Mundy | Photo by Windermere Photography
Larry and Marilyn Roofner’s story of love at first sight, is an inspiring journey spanning nearly five decades.
Marilyn was born in a small rural town in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. She knew at an early age she wanted to help others. While volunteering at a local hospital, she discovered that becoming a physical therapist was her ideal career path. After completing pre-med at Carson Newman College (now Carson Newman University), she moved to Memphis to complete a three-year physical therapy program at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
Larry's athletic prowess in high school, particularly as part of the Pennsylvania state championship basketball team, laid the groundwork for a lifetime of sports engagement, including tennis, golf, and skiing, both snow and water. After high school, Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force and became a corpsman. After graduating from the School of Aerospace Medicine, he taught the effects of altitude on the human body as part of the Air Force pilot training program.
In 1967, Larry moved to Central Florida where he began his career at NASA monitoring the astronauts in the altitude chamber in support of the Apollo missions. Larry continued his education, completing the Cardio-Pulmonary Science program at UCLA. He became a respiratory therapist and worked at Florida Hospital where among other responsibilities, he helped patients recover from open-heart surgery.
Larry and Marilyn’s professional journeys converged in an unexpected setting, leading to their first encounter in a decidedly unromantic hospital cafeteria in Blacksburg, Virginia. Marilyn reminisces, “I was the Director of Physical Therapy and Larry was sent by his company to check on the manager of a different department. We saw each other as we sat down to eat. Something we cannot explain happened immediately. The only description we can give is love at first sight.”
As their relationship grew, Marilyn eventually moved to Central Florida to be closer to Larry. She recalls, “We have many great memories, but a particularly important one involved New Year’s resolutions, or more specifically “wishes.” In 1979, we wrote ours together and wished for three things in our future. We wanted a long and happy relationship, we wanted to start our own businesses, and we wanted to someday own a house like our friends had in Windermere.” Remarkably, it did not take long for their wishes to come to fruition. That same year, not only were Larry and Marilyn married, they purchased their exact dream home from their friends in Windermere, and both started their own businesses. Marilyn says, “We have written New Year’s resolutions ever since, but none will ever equal those!”
In 1979, Larry founded Health Systems, Inc. to teach people how to make lifestyle changes to prevent heart attacks. His clients included the police departments of the City of Winter Park and Winter Springs and the Hyatt Corporation in Central Florida among other businesses. In 1984, he took Health Systems to Orlando Regional Health System as the Director of Wellness, where he helped develop their corporate wellness programs.
Marilyn fondly recalls Larry always encouraging her to pursue “lofty goals.” In 1979 she founded Winter Park Physical Therapy, with one small private practice. This ultimately grew to four more locations from Lake Buena Vista to Seminole County. Providing specialized care to performers and athletes, she began services on-site for Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Lockheed Martin, the Orlando Sentinel, Hyatt Grand Cypress, and several other corporations. Marilyn says, “We also began treating dancers in 1980 for Southern Ballet, now, Orlando Ballet. This grew to a group of approximately 30 to 35 physicians, dentists, and other medical specialists who volunteered their services. This program remains in place to this day.”
In 1995 she sold the practice to Orlando Health and continued to work for them for 17 years, managing and directing various practices. Her leadership roles, particularly within the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which she chaired for five years, exemplify her commitment to health and wellness at a statewide level. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Sunshine State Games and was a consultant to the Atlanta Olympics in developing their medical team. With Larry’s support and unwavering faith in her abilities, Marilyn was a pioneer in the field of physical therapy.
Their Polynesian-style home on stilts off 2nd Avenue offered a much-needed sanctuary from their demanding careers. Nestled on a serene lakeside plot across from Bird Island, it was a hidden gem, enveloped by a lush canopy of palm and cypress trees, their branches elegantly draped in moss. Marilyn says, “We lived in that home for about 20 years before rebuilding our Key West-style home on the site.” While they were rebuilding, Larry’s newfound hobby was building custom doors for their new home. What began as a hobby, became a business when he left Orlando Health. Larry says, “I formed Grand Entrance, Inc. and made residential custom entryways that I sold through EXPO Design Centers. I made a total of 65 entryways, including eleven doors for residents living in the Town of Windermere.”
In 2009, Larry and Marilyn faced a life-changing event. While en route to the YMCA on his bike, Larry was struck by a car traveling at 60 miles per hour, leading to catastrophic injuries that nearly claimed his life. These included eight broken vertebrae, spinal cord damage, and a severe brain injury. His recovery necessitated a prolonged hospital stay of five months, followed by a year of intensive home rehabilitation. Although Larry has no memory of these eighteen months, Marilyn does. Marilyn recalls being told, “The love of my life would not live longer than a few months.” Despite the grim outlook, Marilyn refused to give in to despair. Drawing upon her innate strengths, professional training, and a lifetime dedicated to serving others, she immediately devised a detailed rehabilitation plan for Larry, incorporating a team of doctors, targeted therapies, and various treatments. She was acutely aware of the challenging journey ahead, which would involve multiple surgeries and the need for Larry to relearn basic skills such as walking, speaking, and cognitive functions.
Nearly 15 years later, their remarkable journey of recovery stands as a testament to their collective strength, love, and the power of unwavering determination. They cherish each day together, grateful for the chance to overcome the odds.
After the accident, Larry could no longer craft and install the heavy custom doors. He artistically pivoted to meticulously hand-sculpting custom rocking chairs. He shares, "I select premium hardwoods with distinct patterns, ensuring the wood grain is symmetrically aligned. The wood I use is either sustainably sourced or reclaimed." Larry emphasizes the detailed effort invested in these artistic pieces, underscoring that there are no compromises in their creation. Each chair, a labor of love, requires roughly two months to complete, embodying both aesthetic beauty and incredible comfort.
Marilyn's passion for photography, nurtured since childhood, blossomed into a venture where she sells her work in galleries and bookstores, including Tim’s Wines and Windermere Fine Art and Framing. Her dedication to orchid cultivation and birdwatching further illustrates her deep appreciation for nature's beauty.
Larry and Marilyn have a son, Jim. He and his wife Lisa live in Castle Rock, Colorado with their children, Lilly, 22, and Harris, 20 years old. Jim retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, obtained his master’s degree in counseling, and has a private practice in Colorado Springs.
Larry and Marilyn's adventures have taken them across the globe. Marilyn says, “We have traveled a lot in the past visiting Italy, France, Prague, Spain, Amsterdam, Costa Rica, and Canada.” Jane, Marilyn's mother, who enjoys an independent lifestyle nearby, adds further depth to their family dynamics. For five consecutive years, Marilyn and her mother rented an apartment in Paris for a month each time. The Roofners have embraced adventure, however, they are the happiest together at home in their beautiful oasis set on Lake Butler. Their walks through the neighborhood, interactions with the neighbors, and the friendships they’ve fostered over the years highlight the essence of community living.
The Roofners are deeply engaged in local initiatives that preserve Windermere’s natural environment, from safeguarding Bird Island, an Audubon bird sanctuary, to upholding the town's lush tree canopy. Their involvement not only highlights their commitment to maintaining Windermere's distinctive charm but also underscores their dedication to its conservation.
Larry and Marilyn’s love story illustrates the beauty of shared dreams, the value of hard work, and their unwavering dedication to one another.
Please enjoy their beautiful art by visiting their websites beautifulwoodart.com and marilynsphotos.com
