It all started in the 1960s. Steve Bromberg was a student attending Los Angeles High when he met Ronnie, a girl who attended Fairfax High. He thought, Hey...shes pretty cute. I wonder who shes dating? Steve managed to get Ronnies attention and the two began dating. One day, they were having dinner at his parents house. Steve asked Ronnie to help his mom clean the ring around the tub in the bathroom. Ronnie thought that it was a strange request, but was happy to help out. When she got into the restroom, she saw an engagment ring sitting in the bathtub. The two got married shortly after and theyre still going strong.

Judge Steven Bromberg, an Orange County Superior Court Judge has had essentially three jobs in his lifea lawyer, a mayor, and now a judgeall the while with the loving support of his wife.

Bromberg entered the professional working world as a floor manager for the May Company. I was the youngest at the time in that position. And for then, I was making $100 a week, which wasnt bad, Bromberg remembered, adding that Ronnie was working as a legal secretary at the time. After a couple of years at the May Company, Bromberg realized he had a fascination with the law and decided to become a lawyer. I cant really give you a reason why I wanted to become a lawyer. I was also going to become a policeman...in fact, the same week I got accepted to law school was the same week that I got into the Los Angeles Police Academy, Bromberg says.

Bromberg chose law and attended the University of La Verne, College of Law, while Ronnie continued to work as a legal secretary to support them. We werent used to having anything, so we were fine living with barely any money, he says. Bromberg passed the bar on his first attempt and instead of getting a job at a law firm, which is what many new law graduates do, something inside him pushed him in the direction of starting up a law firm. Ive always had a sense of independence. I really wanted to try to open my own practice and felt that if I didnt, I would regret it, he recalls. With the little money he and Ronnie had saved, Bromberg and a partner opened their practice.

I loved being in court, Bromberg says about his early days as a criminal defense attorney. But by 1982, he and his partner decided to switch gears and cities. I enjoyed the criminal aspect, but I simply felt it was time for something different, he says. So, Bromberg and Ronnie moved from Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley, where he took on only civil cases.

So how was it that Bromberg, a man who spent most of his life in Los Angeles, end up as the mayor of Newport Beach and then became an Orange County Superior Court judge?

We had been going to Newport as tourists for years. In fact, back in 1979, Ronnie and I saw our dream house but it wasnt for sale. In 1985, when we were vacationing in the area, Ronnie came back one day and all she said was, The house is for sale. In fact, Bromberg says that this was one of those moments in his life when he essentially predicted the future. I knew we were going to get the house. When we made our. They laughed at it because it was so low, but I said you watch, were gonna get the house and sure enough, the house fell out of escrow three times and six months later, we got the house. While his partner stayed in the San Fernando Valley, Bromberg opened the Fashion Island branch and he and his wife moved to Newport Beach.

In November of 1994, another incident occured that proved Bromberg could do almost anything if he put his mind to it. I had bladder cancer and not once did I have to think about whether I was going to live or die, Bromberg says. The judge explained that hes not the type of person that sits there and speculates about life and death. Bromberg was going to live and he was going to take every step to guarantee his survival.

The cancer came back again in 1999 and Bromberg fought it even harder. I had my practice, so I would go to work, he says. He spent his days going through his everyday routines, nourishing his desire to live. His technique worked. The year 2000 was a winning year for the Brombergs. He beat his cancer and was also elected to the city council. In 2003, he became the mayor of Newport Beach.

On May 4th, 2005, it was Read Across America Week, and the Brombergs were at Anderson Elementary School reading with about 100 kids and parents. They then went to eat at the Shanghai Pine Gardens restaurant. They got home at around 10:00 p.m. The phone rang. Ronnie picked it up and handed it to her husband. It was Govenor Schwarzeneggers judicial appointment office on the line. I looked at Ronnie and said, I got it.

For the last year and a half, Bromberg has been enjoying the third career of his life. I started a new career at 61, Bromberg says, adding that he couldnt be any happier, especially because he has had Ronnie by his side the entire time. In fact, one of the reasons he was so excited about the judgeship was because Ronnie was so proud of him. When Bromberg describes his wife and their journey together so far, he goes on and on...and on about how supportive, courageous, and wonderful she is. Basically, he saysshes just great.

What a team these two make.

Jenny Wang