Josh Miller, Best Man
Meet Josh. The general friendship-progression you will notice on this web page of Anthony stories is as follows: 1st: Anthony is in some way rude, 2nd: You realize he’s doesn’t really mean it, 3rd: His cold heart melts, 4th: You’re best friends for 11 years. Josh and Anthony met at Lehigh in an empty hallway of the first week of college, Josh’s freshman year. Josh was tiny, weak and timid, and Anthony laughed at him as loudly as possible, completely unprovoked, while wearing full Army fatigues. Fast-forward a month and Josh and Anthony were roommates.
As roommates, the two were an unstoppable team. Anthony met new exciting people, and Josh tried his best to not leave his dorm room. To date, all of Josh’s closest friends were met through Anthony’s networking skills. The next couple of years are a blur; Anthony convinced Josh to be social, and Josh convinced Anthony to play video games. Then, Anthony met Jillian. As Josh later learned, in the early days of Jillian and Anthony’s romance, Jillian secretly disliked Josh because she would have to share Anthony’s time with him. But, over the years, Jillian and Josh learned to appreciate each other, and when Anthony abandoned both of them to go to graduate school, Jillian and Josh became close friends.
In the years since college, Anthony and Josh remained very close. They’ve painted each other’s homes, traveled to exotic locations together (rural Illinois, Vermont, western Pennsylvania), skied, backpacked, heckled one-horned goats and even brewed beer in a haunted basement. Anthony has become the big brother Josh has always wanted (even though Josh is 6 months older than Anthony). Josh is excited that soon Jillian will be the sister-in-law he’s always wanted too. Josh feels privileged to be chosen as Anthony’s best man, but it’s not really a shock; Anthony recently (accidently) told Josh that he loves him. Watch out Jillian.
Dennis Freed, Groomsman
Meet Dennis. Dennis and Anthony were first subjected to each other 11 years ago at Lehigh when Dennis was a freshman causing trouble in his older brother's hall. During one of his many caffeine fueled raids (he wasn't old enough to drink), his brother suggested that Dennis find a nemesis. Anthony, unaware that any of this was occurring, happened be in the right place at the right time and was fortunate enough to be given that moniker. The fictitious rivalry was short lived when both were looking for a roommate. That's when Anthony's friend/Dennis' girlfriend (now wife) stepped in and decided to play matchmaker, suggesting the two move in together. That suggestion proved to be a good one, as both found that video games and bulk ramen had far reaching benefits. After two moves, one Bowflex, weekend car repair clinics, and countless adventures involving anything outdoors, it's no surprise that those 4 years actually felt like 15.
Since Lehigh seemed like a good place to meet people, Dennis also met Jillian there when she was a freshman and he was in the middle of his obsession with car audio. While testing a massive epicenter of bass that took up most of his dorm room on move in day, she stopped by with her roommate Stephanie to say, “hi”. Their mission had probably started with roaming the halls and introducing themselves to upperclassmen, but turned into finding out why everything was falling off their walls two doors down. It wasn't long after this that the story of Anthony and Jillian began. As this next chapter of their life together unfolds, Dennis can only hope that he can still make beer in Anthony's kitchen.
Phil Hubler, Groomsman
Meet Phil. Phil first met Anthony in Taylor College at Lehigh in the fall of 1997, which now seems like a lifetime ago. Come to think of it, 12 years of knowing Anthony is a lifetime. For the first three years of their college career, Anthony was just the loudmouthed guy who picked on Phil’s friend Kristian (and later Phil’s friend Josh). Admittedly, some of the things Anthony did were pretty funny, even if they were a bit juvenile. Like a German Shepherd puppy who eats all of your furniture and then grows up to be your wise best friend, Anthony, like everyone else, matured. During their senior year is when Phil really started to get to know Anthony. Against Phil’s better judgment, he decided it was okay to be friends with Anthony, since he was too polite to ignore him. Plus, Phil thought that Anthony had a really hot freshman girlfriend, which made Anthony way cooler than he was. In the end, Phil was glad he befriended Anthony because he gained one of his most trusted, closest friends. Phil sees Anthony as the big brother that he goes to for advice and who puts me in his place when he needs it. Oh, and that freshmen girl turned out to be really smart and funny and helped turn Anthony into a pussy cat. Double bonus. So, here they are, many years later, and Phil is very honored to be part of the beginning of the rest of their lives.
Kristian Trauger, Groomsman
Meet Kristian. At first, Kristian did not really choose Anthony as a friend, he was assigned to be one, as a freshman roommate at Lehigh. Not many people could understand why Anthony and Kristian were roommates due to their opposite personalities (Anthony was outgoing and conversational and Kristian was shy and quiet), and Kristian couldn’t understand why he got stuck with such a crazy guy. But, through all of Anthony’s craziness the two became good friends. Anthony’s outgoing personality introduced Kristian to many new people, since Anthony took Kristian along to many Lehigh events. Their friendship grew through their freshman year as well as over the next three years at Lehigh. They spent time together by eating dinners at the cafeteria as a group and going to many university sponsored events that Anthony organized with RHA. During their senior year Anthony introduced Kristian to his freshman girlfriend, Jillian, and even thoughit took Kristian 8 years to call Jillian by her name (and not by her best friend Stephanie’s name), the two became friends as well. Since they left Lehigh, Kristian still looks forward to seeing the two of them throughout the year, especially at Anthony’s annual Lehigh-Lafayette party. Kristian also enjoys having Anthony over to his family’s farm for sledding in the winter and pressing fresh cider from apples that they picked in the fall. Kristian is very honored and happy to be celebrating their special day with them and wish them much happiness as they start their life together.
Phil Brennan, Groomsman
Meet Phil. Phil’s friendship with Anthony started in the same way many of Phil’s lifelong relationships started: he hired Anthony. As a fellow Lehigh Industrial Engineer, Phil interviewed Anthony and was eager to hire him right after Anthony earned his Master's degree. Luckily, the job location was just right-- still in commuting distance from Jillian. Phil met Jillian through Anthony, when she invited Phil and his wife Jennifer (whom he also met by hiring her) over for dinner soon after he started working. In typical consulting fashion, Anthony was working late on a project with Phil and arrived late to dinner. Even though their first meeting wasn’t on the best terms (somehow, arriving one hour late for dinner didn’t leave a good impression with Jillian), it wasn't long before Anthony and Jillian became friends with Phil and Jennifer. Over the years, Anthony and Phil cleaned out a mouse ridden attic, cleared a property line, visited the Grand Ole Opry (twice, as if once wasn't enough), dealt with Anthony’s tonsillectomy (Phil’s favorite time, because Anthony couldn’t talk!), and a temporarily debilitating insect bite/infection. Although they no longer work for the same company, their friendship remains strong, spending holidays together when Anthony can’t travel to see his family.
Ben Seidman, Groomsman
Meet Ben. Ben is feeling very good about this union of two beautiful souls. He has known Jillian for 25 glorious years, being a near and dear cousin. There is a story that has been told that one day Jillian and Ben took apart a light switch in Jillian’s bedroom, and while neither of them remember it happening, they cannot deny it because it definitely sounds like something they would do. It’s no surprise to them that they also took “claim” of the same room (the blue room) in their Grandmother’s house whenever they would visit. However, this did not keep them from exploring the “messy” (yellow) room together, finding “treasures” from their mothers’ childhood. Although Jillian and Ben grew up in different school districts, often their circle of friends would overlap, allowing them to remain close throughout their childhood. Ben cannot remember exactly when he met Anthony -- all he knows is that one day there was a big, handsome, goofy addition to the family. Anthony and Ben's bromance blossomed nicely into the rose it is today, and he is excited to hear the couple say "I Do", so that they can keep him around forever.
