From First Date to Forever: The Nisbet Family Find Love and Home in Terrell Hills
By Bruce X. Forey | Photography by David Teran
What happens when attorney John Nisbet and scientist Marina Nolin meet on a first date? They get engaged a week later! Yes, love rules even for a couple whose careers often place them in the analytical thinker category.
Their story began through an online dating site where the women contact the men.
“I was lucky to be chosen by her,” John recalls.
After a long chat, they agreed to meet for dinner. During a talk before their date, Marina made a joke about liking guys who wear bad pants. That was too much for John to resist.
“I found the worst pants. They were salmon-colored, and it was a conversation starter.”
While the pants stood out to Marina, it was John’s authenticity that made the biggest impression.
“You hear horror stories of people who are not like they represent themselves online, but John was actually like his profile. He was quite charming,” Marina recalls.
“We talked about all manner of things, and I saw how big of a heart she had,” John remembered. “I saw in her what I hadn’t found with anyone else.”
Marina obviously felt the same, but those salmon pants sealed their destiny.
“If I had any doubts we were going to get married before our date, with the bad pants, I knew.”
Another sign was how welcoming Marina’s son, Atlas, was to John. He was five years old when they met.
“It was just awesome from day one. He came over and gave me a kiss on my shoulder, and I thought that was really nice,” John said fondly.
A couple that gets engaged a week after their first date usually doesn’t wait long to tie the knot. They planned the wedding in about a week and got married three months later. Everything fell into place to make this union happen. The Little Church of La Villita and its pastor were available the weekend family could be in town for the wedding. Getting their marriage license was almost the most challenging part of saying, “I do.”
“We went to the courthouse, and the clerk told us she didn’t think the judge would issue us a license on such short notice,” John said. “We then went into the courtroom, hat in hand, told the judge we had family coming into town, had the church and pastor scheduled, and were ready to go. She basically said, ‘Okay, here’s your marriage license. Good luck to you all.’”
Perhaps John’s persuasive attorney skills connected with the judge. He is Underwriting Counsel for Stewart Title and has significant experience working within the real estate industry. Before Stewart Title, he was General Counsel for Phyllis Browning Company. He’s also a licensed broker and owned an agency for more than 12 years, combining ranch sales with real estate legal services. He was also chair of the San Antonio Bar Association’s Real Estate Section.
Marina is a career chemist with over a decade of experience in the field. She currently works for Southwest Research Institute as a Senior Quality Scientist. Prior to Southwest Research Institute, she worked as an R&D chemist at VP Racing Fuels developing fuels for various racing organizations.
The Nisbets have a son together named Ezra, or “Ezzie” for short, who turns two in August. They call Terrell Hills home and love the sense of community and its “small-town vibe.” They say it’s a beautiful place to live, with friendly neighbors and kids who like to get out and play.
“Halloween is our favorite time of the year. We close our block, and everybody sets up tables of food and candy. It’s just a nice, fun, family party for Halloween,” said John.
The family of four likes taking road trips, particularly to West Texas and Colorado. They also enjoy parks and hiking. At the end of an outing or a long day at work, the solitude of a charming, tree-lined street awaits them in Terrell Hills.
Marina reflected, “When I was growing up, my dad and I would drive through 78209 and admire the neighborhoods and all the pretty houses, so it was aspirational for me to one day live here.”
Welcome home.
