“Tim thought it was a key ring,” said wife Jessica Navitsky describing her husband’s thought while picking up a metal object off the ground at a gas pump at Turkey Hill in Hometown on November 21, 2014. Upon closer inspection, Tim discovered it to be a wedding ring with an engraving reading: “VER – 6-4-60 – ELE”.
After a few weeks of posting the ring on Facebook, Jessica was doubtful she would ever find the owner.
On December 11, 2014, a friend of Jessica’s tagged a reporter with TamaquaArea.com under her Facebook posting. The reporter caught it and decided to post a short article on this website the same day. Within an hour, the reporter received a phone call from a McAdoo man claiming to be the son-in-law of the ring’s owner. Robert Leshko correctly identified the unpublished markings on the ring as that of his father-in-law. Leshko is also the fire chief for the McAdoo Fire Department.
Leshko said his father-in-law (who wishes to remain anonymous) didn’t realize he lost the ring until he got home. Both Leshko’s mother and father-in-law, who live together in McAdoo, have been married 54 years. Leshko added that his father-in-law credited his late grandson Aaron Leshko, who passed away in August, for the miraculous recovery of the ring. “It was truly a miracle,” said Leshko.
A comment on Facebook from Jessica reads, “After 3 weeks of searching for the lost wedding rings owner, Andrew Leibenguth found him in 1 hour. This warms my heart more then words can say. I’m in tears! This couple was married on 6-4-1960. To see they are still together and very much in love should prove that marriage is strong!!! Can’t wait to meet them tomorrow and return their sign of love and commitment.”
A follow-up comment from Jessica reads, “I just got off the phone with the gentlemen who lost the ring and he was nothing short of a pure joy to speak with. He attributes the finding if his ring to good people and good faith. I did however, get to meet his son-in-law and he was beyond nice and very happy to get the ring back for his father-in-law. Thanks everyone for the kind words I’m beyond happy!!!”
Jessica added that the father-in-law told her he never had this ring off his finger, not even during surgeries. The only time the ring came of was in the late 70’s to have it resized. How it came off is still a mystery.
Robert Leshko and his father-in-law stated their appreciation to Jessica, Tim and TamaquaArea.com.