Mary Ann B. Meils was living in the Philippines with her late husband, Fred, who was then president of Pepsi-Cola Philippines, when they met Dr. John R. Fulkerson. At the time Fulkerson was traveling in the area for Pepsi International. Except for the occasional Pepsi party, Mary Ann and John didn’t see each other again for another twenty years. When they did reconnect, John expressed an interest in dating Mary Ann to a friend via e-mail. Her response? “I said, ‘This isn’t high school. Have him get in touch with me directly!’”
A four-year courtship ensued that lead to John’s proposal on bended knee in front of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center during a December snowstorm. The couple was married at the Boathouse in New York City’s Central Park, where a reception followed. The Reverend Dr. Jean Simpson, a longtime friend of the bride, officiated at the ceremony.
The bride, who is keeping her name, is the daughter of Frieda Billera, formerly of New Canaan and now of Delray Beach, Florida, and the late I. John Billera. A graduate of New Canaan High School, she has a BA from Boston University and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management. Mary Ann did further graduate studies in management at Fairfield University.
The groom is the son of the late Mildred and Roy Fulkerson of Baytown, Texas. He has a BS degree from Texas A & M University and a PhD in psychology from Baylor University. John is a psychologist who heads Fulkerson & Associates in Manhattan.
The newlyweds, who honeymooned in Paris and Normandy, will be splitting their time between homes in New Canaan, Manhattan and Cape Cod.
PHOTOGRAPHs BY CHRIS RAMIREZ