Cupid’s arrow can strike lovers of any age

Steve Marcus

Maxine “Mickie” Hollander, 72, and Gene Adler, 80, will be married Saturday at the Excalibur. “We’re just two crazy people, not your average couple,” Hollander says. “We can just look at each other and laugh, which is what makes it so beautiful.”

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Apparently age doesn’t matter in love, or dating. Just ask 72-year-old Maxine “Mickie” Hollander and 80-year-old Gene Adler.

The Las Vegas couple met online, through a dating service for Jewish singles (jdate.com).

They’ve been together for about three years and finally decided to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day.

“It was totally meant to be,” Hollander says.

Her fiance probably agrees but he wasn’t home to defend himself during the interview. He was at work. He’s a security guard three days a week.

Apparently you’re never too old to get married, or hold a job.

“Gene is totally my soul mate,” Hollander says. “He was sent to me. We’re just two crazy people, not your average couple. We can just look at each other and laugh, which is what makes it so beautiful.

“We like the same things. We have similar personalities. He can say something and I can finish it — usually only a couple that has been married quite awhile can do that. We know what each other is feeling.”

The bride and groom have been married before. Her husband passed away more than four years ago, his wife about 10 years ago.

Hollander was talked into going online for a date a year or so after her husband died.

“I met a few gentlemen,” she says. “Finally I decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. But a couple of weeks later I thought what the heck, I’ll give it one more try.

“I went online and, sure enough, there was a picture of a man I had never seen before — he put his driver’s license picture up as part of his profile and I thought, ‘Oh my God. How ugly.’

“But I accidentally hit the flirt button and he sent me a message. He sounded nice so I gave him a call and we talked for three and a half hours on the phone. I’ve never done that in my life.”

They met face to face a week later.

“There was never any question after that.”

The ceremony will take place at the Excalibur showroom on Feb. 14 after the 3 p.m. matinee of “Defending the Caveman.”

Hollander says her son knows one of the show’s producers and everyone thought a caveman wedding would be hysterical for a couple who met online.

“Caveman” star Kevin Burke, an ordained minister, will conduct the service.

The audience will be invited to stick around to witness the nuptials.

After the wedding, the couple will go across the street to the Tropicana for their honeymoon, a gift from a friend in Florida.

Apparently you’re never too old to honeymoon, either.