Picture Of Widower Dining With Picture Of Late Wife Goes Viral

FREMONT (CBS SF) -- A photo of a Bay Area widower eating in an In-N-Out restaurant with a picture of his late wife has gone viral.

John Silva played in the minor leagues in Massachusetts when he met the woman who would become his wife during a practice.

"I don't know how many players can say they met their wife at a practice," John's friend Lorena Ippolito told KPIX 5.

One of John's teammates threw him the ball, but he missed.

"The ball rolled across the field and made its way to Hilda's feet, and then John took one look and said that's it.  And he told her, I'm going to take you out.  I'm going to marry you someday."

But, that day wouldn't come until ten years later when John was making a delivery to his boss' house and noticed a familiar face.

"He said, I recognize the picture on the wall, and I was chills all over and I think, oh my gosh, and I said that was her.  That's the girl I've been looking for ten years," Lorena said.

The two were married a year later, and eventually moved to the Bay Area.

Hilda passed away five years ago, but John still goes to their favorite places, including the Olive Garden in Fremont which has a plaque and picture of them at the table they loved.  When he dines, the picture of Hilda keeps him company.

"In the electronic age, there's just not a whole lot of romance unless it's on TV, and then somebody like this comes along and reminds you.  I hope I got even half of what they had."