Streamed live on February 10, 2025

Renee Geffken joined the Navy in September 1974, beginning her training at boot camp in Orlando. She then attended Corps School at Great Lakes before working for a year in the emergency room in Connecticut. Her next step was psychiatric technician training, which took her to Fort Sam Houston in Texas and then Oakland Naval Hospital for her practical experience. Following her training, she received orders to the Naval Regional Medical Center in Okinawa, which was under Army command at the time. She arrived in September 1976, and by January 1977, the hospital had transitioned to Navy control.

While working in the psychiatric unit, known as Three South, Renee met Dave Geffken under unusual circumstances. She had been scheduled to take the E-5 Naval leadership examination at 8:00 a.m., but a delayed report from her night shift kept her until 7:45. Rushing to the exam room, she found only one seat available—across from a man who would later become her husband. At the time, Renee was more concerned with her hunger and doubts about passing the test than making new acquaintances. However, during their brief conversation, Dave, who had only been on the island for a few weeks, questioned her about working in the psych unit, insisting he had never seen her there.

A month later, Renee returned from a trip to Texas and California to visit her family and then-boyfriend. While waiting for the charge nurse to retrieve her paycheck from the narcotics locker, she encountered Dave again. He repeatedly glanced at her hand before finally admitting he was checking for a wedding ring. Their paths crossed again when the charge nurse assigned them to work together on the night shift.

During a quiet moment on a late shift, Dave casually asked Renee about her trip. As she described her visit to California, he surprised her by recognizing the small town near Lemoore Naval Air Station where her family lived. Skeptical of his claim, she dismissed it as an attempt at flirting—advice her Navy veteran father had warned her about. However, Dave proved his sincerity by showing his ID, which listed his home address in Lemoore. The two had lived only 45 miles apart their whole lives but had met across the world in Okinawa.

From November to March, Renee and Dave worked together through the demanding shifts of military hospital life. In early March 1978, Renee realized she had fallen in love with Dave. They began dating more seriously, and Dave admitted he had felt it was “love at first sight” when he met her during the leadership exam. Their relationship soon became well known among their colleagues, prompting a charge nurse to adjust their schedules, ensuring they were no longer on the same shifts.

In July 1978, Renee left Okinawa and returned home to Yedem, California. They had observed how many military relationships dissolved after a period of separation, so they remained cautious. Dave finished his service in Okinawa and returned to the U.S. on December 15, 1978. Despite the time apart, they realized they still wanted to be together. Shortly after Christmas, on December 28, 1978, they married in Las Vegas.

Following their wedding, they drove to San Antonio, Texas, where Dave attended the psychiatric technician program at Fort Sam Houston. They later received orders for Portsmouth, Virginia, before ultimately settling in San Diego. With the GI Bill, Renee earned an associate degree as a medical secretary, while Dave pursued his passion for music, playing in classic rock cover bands before returning to psychiatric work. He later worked at the Porterville State Hospital for 30 years. Renee earned a bachelor’s degree in hospital management and business administration, eventually becoming a case manager at the same hospital. The couple retired together in 2014.

Their marriage, which began with a chance encounter in Okinawa, endured through military service, relocations, and career changes. Their story remains a cherished piece of family history, one that their children and grandson can look back on with admiration.

We’re grateful to UPMC for Lifefor sponsoring this event!