The Kitts So Happy Together

This month, we are pleased to introduce you to Susan and Michael Kitt: A couple whose story is one of true love, lots of laughter and a wonderful dream come true.

Michael moved to the Lawrence Park section of Broomall with his parents when he was four years old. After living on Lyndhurst Dr for 18 years, Michael’s parents decided to build what they thought would be their forever home just about a mile down the road. “It was a beautiful new home with a pool,” Michael explained. “Unfortunately though, the entire development was situated right where the Blue Route was to be constructed. We had no choice but to leave our home and watch it be demolished after just five short years.” Wanting to stay in Broomall, his family found a new home in a development off Cedar Grove Rd and settled in.

Michael went to Loomis Elementary, Paxon Hollow Middle School and graduated from Marple Newtown High School in 1973. While in school, he enjoyed playing bass guitar in a band and attended Vo-Tech for Radio, Television and Film. Michael then spent some time studying at Temple University but ultimately decided that a career in that field was not the right fit.

He moved to Manhattan briefly before beginning a career in the jewelry industry on the famous Jeweler’s Row in Philadelphia. That position led him to his next adventure, with a jewelry remount company that had him traveling around the country.

“I loved traveling and exploring,” he said. “Some of my favorite well-known places are San Diego, CA and Tucson, AZ, but I also fell in love with lesser-known towns like Peoria, IL and Missoula, MT.” Traveling also allowed Michael to explore and expand on his impressive collection of cigars.

Life’s too short to smoke cheap cigars,” he said. “I have met master blenders, visited manufacturers and consider myself quite the collector and aficionado.

While Michael enjoyed his time on the road, after four years, he felt the need to come back “home” to the Marple Newtown area. It was right about that time that he got a phone call from a friend who was starting a business and needed help. “It really was great timing,” Michael explained. “I moved back to the area and began working in the medical supply field selling absorbent mats to hospitals and surgical centers. That was 28 years ago and we’re still going strong.”

Michael Kitt’s Senior Portrait from Marple Newtown High School ‘73

Photo courtesy of Michael Kitt

The success of the business led Michael to start looking for his own home in our area. “I limited my search to Broomall and Newtown Square,” he said.

I had a list of must-haves, as most house hunters do, but ended up falling in love with a home in Newtown Square that didn’t check off many of those boxes.

The home was not only incredibly charming, with an inviting front porch and character throughout, but it was also on a private lot with natural landscaping and plenty of room for backyard gatherings. Michael said that from the moment he drove up the driveway, he knew he wanted to live there.

Meanwhile, just a short distance away, Susan was living in Ridley Park, enjoying a career in directing resident activities in senior living communities and playing piano professionally. Originally from New England, Susan moved to Ridley Park with her mother when she was going into seventh grade. She attended Our Lady of Peace in Milmont Park, then graduated from Ridley High School, where she was heavily involved with drama and chorus.

I participated in my school’s productions as well as community theater,” Susan explained. “I was even voted Best Actress in my high school yearbook.

After high school, Susan attended Penn State to study Music and Communications. She also enjoyed her classes in photography and Italian. “My father was from Italy and moved to the United States when he was in eighth grade. When he was in high school, he joined an Italian-American soccer team where he formed many friendships,” she said. “One day, I happened to stop at Luigi & Giovanni’s for some takeout, and while I was there, my eye caught a glimpse of a photo of an Italian soccer team hanging on the wall. I scanned the photo a little more closely and spotted my father.” Susan immediately said something to the person at the counter, who told her that Luigi was on that same soccer team and happened to be standing right next to her father in the photo.

I eventually brought my dad into the store to reunite with his teammate,” she said. “It had been nearly 60 years since the two played together, but when they saw each other, it was as if no time had passed.

Michael at Brenton Point in Newport, RI

Photo courtesy of Susan Kitt

After college, Susan returned to Ridley Park and began her work in senior living communities and performing professionally. “I love making seniors smile and creating programs that bring a more dignified and purposeful life for them,” she said. “I especially love working in dementia care and honoring their individuality and allowing them to feel loved and appreciated.” Susan also shared that in addition to her work, she loves to spend time with her cat, Brady, who is named after the popular TV series, The Brady Bunch. “I grew up watching The Brady Bunch and never stopped!” she laughed.

A few years ago, I created a private Facebook page called The Ultimate Brady Bunch FB fan site that now has over 10,000 members, including some of the original cast members.

And while Susan and Michael had happy, fulfilling lives before they met, the universe was busy composing a love story of its own. “Susan and I met in 2020 when the world was isolating, and no one was going anywhere,” Michael said. “I was involved with a group of musicians who gathered to play weekly in Philadelphia, but when Covid hit, we had to take it online.” Michael did not know at the time that Susan had stumbled upon the online group while browsing for activities that would allow her to keep singing and playing piano.

When the world shut down, I lost all of my gigs,” Susan said. “Not only did I lose a big part of my livelihood, but I lost my ability to connect and perform.

The couple explained that there were many members in the online group who logged on weekly to perform an original piece or a cover song over Zoom. Michael said he noticed Susan right away. “There was this new girl who joined the group,” he smiled. “I knew she was extremely talented, but her sound was off because she was using her phone to connect and didn’t have the right equipment.”

The happy couple then celebrated their nuptials with a honeymoon back in Newport, RI.

After a few weeks, Michael reached out to Susan and offered to help her get set up with the proper microphone and sound settings. Susan took him up on his offer, and they met in person in January 2021. “We immediately became best friends,” Susan said. “Michael proposed to me five months later on the rocks at Brenton Point in Newport, RI. He knew it was my happy place since childhood and his thoughtfulness in planning the perfect proposal there meant so much to me. We married that October in an intimate ceremony in our beautiful backyard.”

Their love for each other and for music was put on full display on their wedding day when Susan arranged for their family and their friends from the musical group to surprise Michael by joining in to sing Happy Together by The Turtles as Susan entered the tent. “The funniest part is that Susan had been keeping this under wraps for some time, and the week before our wedding, as we were performing in our musical group, I suggested that we sing that very song,” Michael laughed. “Susan thought for sure that someone spilled the beans, but it was a complete coincidence.”

But what seemed like a whirlwind romance also felt like it was a lifetime in the making. Both Susan and Michael said that they felt like they had known each other their entire lives from the moment they met.

We are definitely kindred spirits,” Susan explained. “And although we are opposite in many ways, our love for each other is just perfect.

Life in Newtown Square has been rewarding, fulfilling and fun. The Kitts spend much of their time entertaining in their home and on their back patio. “During the spring and summer, we love to invite our friends and family over to sit around the fire to chat, play music and sing along,” Susan said. “We have the best neighbors, too, and we feel very fortunate to live in such a wonderful community.”

Thank you, Susan and Michael, for sharing your story. On behalf of your Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, we wish you many more years of living Happy Together.

Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.