Surprise! 40 years of marriage later, this couple knows how to celebrate

Pete Rogell surprised his wife 20 years ago with an anniversary party at their favorite Brevard beach, complete with their kids, the police chief, a plane flying just off the coast with a romantic banner and tickets for a trip to Hawaii.

That blowout bash went so well, he did the same unexpected thing on the couple's recent 40th anniversary — albeit with a one-day delay on the banner touting "Cindy Rogell 7 Kids 15 GX Still In Love Pete."

This time, though, the couple had plenty of company to shower them with good wishes at Satellite Beach's Pelican Beach Park. Almost 40 people, many of whom got a surprise of their own, showed up for an oceanside toast to the Rogells. Celebrants for the June 28 party included the Rogells' seven children, who range in age from 21 to 39; six spouses of children; 15 grandchildren (two more are on the way); some family friends; members of the Satellite Beach Fire Department; and Satellite Beach Police Chief Jeff Pearson.

To make the surprise even sweeter, Cindy — bakery manager at Publix in Viera — had been told by her store manager, Ted Johnson, that he needed help with a wedding for a friend.

That meant not long before guests popped out of limos in the parking lot, Cindy was securing a decorated cake on a table whose cloth whipped in the wind as the skies darkened.

And then, Pete arrived via police car and with a fire truck escort, rose and plane tickets in hand. And it didn't rain, though the banner had to be flown the next day. And there was laughter. And tears. And as birds flew in the distance, one very happy couple celebrated.

Pete likes to think he's romantic. He's right, Cindy said.

"I was shocked. Totally shocked. Forty years ... it's a long time," she said. "I  thought I had to work. Having the whole family here means a whole lot to me. All my kids, grandkids ... I love it."

The first time he met Cindy, Pete said, "I knew she was my love to grow old with."

"When we danced to the song 'Three Times a Lady,' I said how beautiful she was," said Pete, who's been with BK Technologies for 41 years.

"She was so special that when we danced, we somehow talked about how many kids she wanted and she said six, just like I wanted. At that point I knew we would be together. My first girlfriend ran when I said I wanted six kids."

And so, as he planned the party, he thought about their life together, which started with their wedding at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on June 28,1979.

Their favorite beach. A return trip to Hawaii. That each guest would bring a long-stemmed red rose, with a total of 40 being presented to Cindy. 

"This particular beach is our favorite beach, the one we visited as we raised our seven children in Satellite Beach," Pete said.

Why keep the party under wraps?

To show her "how special she is to me," Pete said. "This all is an expression of true love. The kind of love you feel in your chest that makes the heart pound with love."

Satellite Beach Police Chief Jeff Pearson has known the Rogells — who were featured in FLORIDA TODAY in 1999 — for many years. He jumped at the chance to help recreate the Rogells' 20th anniversary, he said.

"In a bigger city, Orlando or somewhere, you couldn't get the police chief to drive you to this," he said. "But he's grown up here. His kids have grown up here. I remember vaguely when the police chief back then helped out. They're just a close-knit, wonderful family. And that's what Satellite Beach is all about, family."

The Rogells' children, too, aren't at all surprised that their dad could pull off a surprise this expansive — or that their mother actually fell for the way he lured the family to the beach.

Everything her father does is always thought out, full of meaning and sentimental, said Michelle Guerre, who at 28 is the couple's next-to-youngest child.

"This is something I would expect him to do," said Guerre, an Indialantic resident who attended with her husband, Steve.

"He is passionate about showing his loved ones how much he cares for them in grand ways. He is known for his extravagant gestures. When I look at my dad, I see a fun-loving and hardworking father and husband who lives by the motto 'Family is everything.' When we hear these two special words "Guess what?' we know it is his special way of telling us how much he loves us."

And that's just the way Pete thinks it ought to be.

Matter of fact, he had secretly arranged for all his children and their families to go to Disney World for a couple of days while he and Cindy were in Hawaii.

"I always try to do what is right for my wife and children," he said.

"It’s all about family. We all should do a little bit better than our parents and learn from our parents, good and bad, so we don’t repeat bad and promote good ... as the wedding vows say, for better or worse. I am so proud of my family."

Contact Kennerly at 321-242-3692 or bkennerly@floridatoday.com, Twitter @bybrittkennerly or at Facebook.com/bybrittkennerly.