30 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 
J
N

A

fter all the hoopla surround-
ing the Jewish Matchmaking 
Netflix show, we can probably 
better appreciate the role of a match-
maker. But, of course, anyone can play 
matchmaker! In one couple’s case, it was 
MiMi, the owner of her long-frequented 
nail salon, Fancy Nails on Maple Road. 
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. 
Meet Fran White. She grew up in 
Michigan and shared a beautiful mar-
riage with her beloved husband of 54 
years, Ronald White … until he passed 
away on Feb. 1, 2014, after a long battle 
with cancer. He was 80 years old. 
After Ron’s passing, Fran continued 
to frequent Fancy Nails and the owner, 
MiMi, mentioned that there was a nice 
gentleman who used to bring in his ill 
wife to get her nails done, but she had 
recently passed away. Would Fran like 
to meet him?
It was too soon. Fran wanted to wait a 
year before dating.
“The year passed quickly,
” Fran now 
reflects. “The next time MiMi asked if I 
wanted to meet someone, I asked, ‘Is he 
Jewish?’ MiMi looked me straight in the 
eye and said, ‘Do you think I would fix 
you up with someone who wasn’t Jewish!’” 
That was a yes … so MiMi got straight to 
work! She called the gentleman’s daughter 
Laura to find out if her father was ready to 
date. When MiMi got a “yes,
” she had a fun 
suggestion: Fran’s next mani-pedi appoint-
ment was at 10 a.m. on a Thursday. The 
gentleman should arrive at 11 to meet her. 
Should they tell Fran? Nah, it would be 
much more fun to surprise her.
Thursday arrived and everyone in the 
salon was particularly giggly, in on the sur-
prise, and at that point, they finally clued 
Fran in. She had her manicure and then sat 
at the pedicure basin. Around 11, the door 
opened and a gentleman walked in. 
“There I was, in the middle of getting a 
pedicure, with my feet in the air and my 
nails drying on the arms of the chair,
” Fran 
laughed. “What a sight!”
MiMi pulled up a seat for the gentleman 

and told him, “Don’t pay any attention to 
me; I’ll be working on Fran’s feet, just enjoy 
your visit!”
Don wasn’t fazed … Yes, that’s his name. 
Donald Stein. Fran first had a Ronald; now 
she has a Donald. You can’t make this stuff 
up!
They chatted for 20 minutes; he took 
her number, called the next day and they 
arranged a dinner date for the following 
night. When Don’s daughter Laura found 
out about the date, she turned up on his 
doorstep with a bouquet of flowers for Fran. 
That certainly helped things get off on the 
right (pedicured) foot!
“It was a match!” Fran said delightedly. 
They’ve been together ever since. 
It’s particularly fascinating to note how 
much the two had in common. Donald 
Stein, originally from New Jersey, had also 
been married for 54 years, to his beloved 

wife, Flo, who had also passed away 
after a long battle with cancer. Ronald 
White and Flo Stein had actually passed 
away within two weeks of each other. 
The two couples had even lived in the 
same subdivision for many years but 
had never met.
And, of course, another common 
denominator was MiMi and Fancy 
Nails. It’s a fact that when someone gets 
their nails done, they often get so much 
more — friendship, free therapy and, in 
Fran’s case, someone to share the rest of 
your life with!
Fran and Don dated for a year, moved 
in together and sold Don’s house. “We 
wanted to grow old together and that’s 
just what we’re doing!” Fran said now, 
nine years later. 
In September 2022, Fran and Don 
moved to a retirement community 
called Rolling Hills. 
“We have lots of activities including 
daily exercise programs. There’s won-
derful people and good food … No 
need to shop or cook. It feels like we 
are always on vacation!” said Don and 
Fran happily; they are truly living their 
happily ever after. 
Their two families have grown close. 
“I feel like I’ve inherited another daughter 
named Laura,
” said Fran. “We’re very lucky 
because all of our children want us to be 
happy and made it easy for us.
”
Fran has two daughters, Michelle Soltz 
and Vicki Brown. Don has three children, 
Laura Ellentuck, who lives near Don and 
Fran, and two sons, Mark and Bobby, who 
live in New Jersey. Together, they have 15 
grandchildren and have recently added two 
more through marriage. 
Fran is an only child and had always 
wished she had more family. “My wish 
came true,
” Fran said happily. “Now I’m 
patiently waiting to become a great-
grandma!” 

This column will appear biweekly. If you’d like to 

share your ‘meet-cute’ story, email burstynwithjoy@

hotmail.com

OUR COMMUNITY

‘Growing Old Together’

ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HOW WE MET

Don and Fran 
dressed up at Fran’s 
granddaughter 
Madelyne’s wedding 

