I found Robert and Jeanie on their stoop in the Rockaways a few days after Hurricane Sandy. They have lived on that block almost their entire lives, growing up as next door neighbors just across the street from the house that they now share together as a married couple. Everyone in the area told me that if I wanted to know about the neighborhood, I had to talk to Robert, the unofficial mayor of Belle Harbor. Their story warmed my heart, and witnessing their relationship with each other and with this community gave me hope that we will get through this. It won't be easy, but with everyone looking out for each other, only time stands between devastation and the next relaxed walk on the beach. Here is a clip from their story.
Robert and Jeanie
