Our Twentieth-Century Romance

About the Book

"Our Twentieth-Century Romance" is a captivating memoir of the life of Stephen Riordan. Riordan is an Everyman of America, whose story could be told by many in the United States in the 20th century. Born and raised in a small Irish Catholic town in rural Iowa, his family's wealth destroyed by the Great Depression, Stephen hitchhikes across America into a new life. His journey takes him to Los Angeles, where he meets Gertrude Neubauer, a young widow who also left Iowa in search of opportunities and adventure. Their brief courtship results in a marriage lasting 64 years. From World War II, when he was a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Navy submarine service and she was a housekeeper in a wealthy home in San Diego, through the turbulent 60's and into their retirement years, these memoirs are filled with insight into the life of the century itself. Through his work as a corporate executive, the excitement of world travel, and his bout with cancer, Riordan is a man of faith and commitment to Catholicism. His spirituality imbues this book with insights into not only the events of his time, but also the search for meaning that makes life worth living.

About the Author

Stephen Riordan was born in Melrose, Iowa, in 1912. He studied chemical engineering at University of Idaho, then moved to California, where he met and married Gertrude Neubauer. After World War II, he and Gertrude raised their three daughters in Altadena, California. Stephen, now a widower, lives near Seattle.