Frank Benedetto met his wife, Marion at a ballroom dance on Long Island. After 51 years of marriage to the woman he believes was one of the most stylish and vibrant beauties in the world, he found her facedown in her office at their Purcellville farm, stricken by a sudden brain embolism on March 31st.

"She was working on the races for The Middleburg Hunt," he said sadly. "We both loved to ride. That's why we moved to this area."

Marion Joan Benedetto was a stunning girl who was actively engaged in the fashion business in New York and in ballroom dancing when a good friend of Frank's pointed her out to him at a dance. When he spotted the pretty redhead in a black watch plaid dress with puff sleeves and a big crinoline skirt he was smitten.

"I asked her to dance that evening, and a year later I asked her to marry me," he remembered.

Frank and Marion both grew up in New York. His mother was a "First Dress" fashion designer. These are the individuals who work one-on-one with designers to create the impeccable model of a new design. So Frank Benedetto knew a fashionable beauty when he saw one. Marion was running Macy's runway fashion shows, events that drew crowds of 500 or more customers on a regular basis.

"She was such a knock-out that night," Frank said. "'I'd grown up knowing about fashion and she was the epitome of a truly fashionable beauty. Over time, I learned that she was truly exceptional in every way."

While they were in New York, Frank and Marion danced at all the legendary ballrooms and clubs. "We danced at the Long Island Club, The Latin Quarter, Roseland and the Copacabana," he remembered. "The Polish Halls had the biggest bands. We loved to dance."

One of his favorite memories is about Marion being recognized three times with the Tailgate Prize at the Gold Cup Races. "We always have Spot 11 on the rail, and she was always so beautiful in her big hats and classy fashions. But nothing surpassed her tailgates! I think, eventually, they simply couldn't keep giving her the prize, even though I think she deserved it. But believe me, it didn't matter a bit to her. She just loved being part of the racing festivities."

The doctor told Frank that Marion never knew what happened. Sadly, as he said, "…it doesn't change the fact that I'll miss her forever."

Marion Joan Benedetto's surviving family includes children, Frank Benedetto of Long Island, N.Y., and Teresa Treffeiscn of Huntington, N.Y., five grandchildren, and her sister Gail Smith and her brother, John Polifka, also of Long Island, N.Y. She will be sadly missed in Hunt Country.