Dr. Ashok and Ruthie Kumar celebrated their 50th anniversary recently during a family dinner hosted by their children at Michael Alberini’s restaurant in Boardman.

Dr. Kumar and the former Ruthie Hermiz were married Aug. 5, 1964 at Christian Union Church in Endwell, N.Y. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Thomas E. Hermiz and the Rev. Thomas H. Hermiz, the father and brother of Ruthie.

Dr. Kumar is a graduate of Kerala Medical School in India and Mrs. Kumar is a graduate of Marathon Central School in New York. Dr. and Mrs. Kumar have resided in Warren since 1965.

Dr. Kumar is a veteran of the U.S. Army earning the rank of major and served as a medical doctor in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970. After returning to the United States from military duty, the couple returned to Warren to raise their family.

Dr. Kumar was employed by Hillside Hospital until 1975 when he decided to start his private medical practice in Howland, where he continues to practice to this day. He is also an active staff member of Trumbull Memorial Hospital. Dr. Kumar is an avid tennis player, a father and a grandfather. Mrs. Kumar enjoys yoga, is a housewife, mother and grandmother.

The couple has four children, Peter (Renee) Kumar of Warren, Kiesha Malloy (Larry Ferrari) of Macedonia, Michelle (Ami) Perez of Lyndhurst and Asha (Adam) Gregory of Warren. They also have eight grandchildren. They have had the joy of not only raising their four children, but watching their seven grandsons and one granddaughter, currently ranging in ages from 6 to 24, grow up.

As an anniversary gift their family sent them on a trip to New York City to enjoy some of their favorite interests. They saw a Broadway show, watched tennis matches at the U.S. Open and also visited the 9/11 Museum.