Since their marriage in 1992, Edwin and Jackey Waingart have developed a goal: to visit each of the seven continents.  One destination will make their list complete, but no matter where their travels take them, their home in Thornblade is always their favorite place to be.

Edwin and Jackey met in 1990 while working at Digital Equipment Corporation and were married in 1992.  Edwin is the executive vice president of Waingart Wealth Advisors of Janney, a business he started almost 25 years ago.  Jackey began her career as a computer engineer and retired as an educator, teaching Spanish in local schools.  They are parents of two.

“We are proud to call these two remarkable young women our daughters. Cristina Waingart-Gerrald is a dedicated financial advisor at Waingart Wealth Advisors of Janney, our family business, and the founder of The Greenville Ladies Club, a club with one important mission: to make friends and have fun! Cristina is married to Heath Gerrald, a software engineer at Nightwing. They live in Greenville. Our younger daughter, Lauren Waingart, is a mental health therapist at Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Denver. Although we miss Lauren dearly, we enjoy visiting her in the beautiful state of Colorado.”

And Colorado isn’t the only destination the Waingarts enjoy.  Travel has been a shared love since their first vacation together, one that didn’t go exactly as planned.

“We traveled to St. Maarten in the Caribbean, a trip we’ll never forget. On the day we were supposed to depart, Eastern Airlines went bankrupt, and we ended up flying to the island on an almost empty plane. Only the pilot, the flight attendant, and we were on it; it felt like a private jet! Returning from St. Maarten was an adventure; we had to stay an extra day because we couldn’t find flights, but we weren't complaining. Staying in paradise an extra night wasn’t so bad!”

Since then, the Waingarts have traveled to six continents, with a plan to visit the seventh, Australia, when Jackey turns 65.  Some of their favorite destinations have been Tokyo, London, Oslo, Madrid, Venice, and the French Riviera, especially Monte Carlo and St. Tropez.  But one of their most memorable trips was far from the sunny Mediterranean.

“Antarctica was, in one word, magnificent! This is a pristine continent, bursting with wildlife.  There are penguins everywhere and floating icebergs in all shapes and heights. Noise pollution is nonexistent, making it incredibly impactful to sit on your balcony and experience true solitude for the first time. You feel a sense of peace that’s hard to put into words. The penguins are the ambassadors of this white continent, the sea lions are the welcoming hosts, the blue whales are the guardians, and the orcas are the playful bandits. Watching albatrosses skillfully navigate the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific meet, was truly a lesson on how to maneuver the winds. Antarctica was an experience that reminded us of the incredible beauty of God’s creation.

Some travel has been memorable for different reasons.

“We can write a book about all the taxi drivers we've met, from one who wanted us to join a revolution in his country to another who was very concerned that Edwin had only one wife. There was also the driver with strong views on Chinese influence in their country, and the one who charmingly explained to his daughter why he was late picking her up. We also had a fun time driving from Toulon to St. Tropez in a stick-shift transmission car, navigating all the street signs in French.”

One of the Waingarts’ favorite parts of any trip, though, is returning to their home in Thornblade, where they have lived for almost 18 years.  And there is always a special friend waiting for them.  Both Edwin and Jackey love dogs, and throughout their marriage, their family has included Smile, a blonde Cocker Spaniel who was with them for 16 years, and Mia, a Biewer Terrier who was with them for 14 years.  According to Jackey, both dogs believed they deserved royal treatment.

“For a long time, Mia only agreed to go outside in her royal stroller, with me as her noble carriage driver. Madam Mia Waingart, who weighed only 8 pounds, somehow made everyone believe she was a Great Dane! It’s always heartwarming to see how much love and personality these little fur companions bring into our lives.”

If Smile and Mia were royalty, then their current dog, Luna, an English Cocker Spaniel, is more of a servant.  At age two, she’s a certified Upstate Therapy Dog, bringing joy and calm to folks throughout the Greenville area.

“Luna struggled a bit in the beginning because she couldn't sit for the required amount of minutes. But on her third try, she passed! Now, she's one of the younger dogs in the pack and is certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. This allows her to bring joy and comfort to Prisma facilities, Shriners Children's Hospital, schools, senior centers, and churches.  At the airport, she met a team of soccer players from New York who were feeling very tired. But as soon as Luna arrived, everyone's spirits lifted, and all the girls were happily petting her. At Prisma South Carolina Medical School, Luna also offers comfort to students,  helping ease their anxieties and exhaustion after exam week. Luna has a lovable nature and a calming presence that touches everyone she meets. Her sweet demeanor truly makes her the perfect fit for this meaningful volunteer work.” 

When she’s not working with Luna, Jackey loves gardening and learning all she can about Mah Jongg.

When he’s not at the office, Edwin enjoys working out and reading biographies, suspense novels, and American history. Sunday, though, is about spending time together.

“We attend Grace Church,” they say, “and always look forward to the Sunday service, followed by Thornblade's Sunday brunch, which we really enjoy.”

They’re currently enjoying a summer at home, but it won’t be long before the Waingarts are off again.  In December, they’ll travel to Puerto Rico, where Jackey was born, to celebrate Christmas.  But when the trip is over, they won’t mind at all.

“We all have that favorite spot we love to come back to, and for us, it’s definitely HOME!”