Russian Bride Success Story

Mathew Zummo and Natalya Russkya met through the Family International Catalog. For nine months, they talked every Sunday evening for three hours, and then he went to Russia for a two-week visit. (From St. Petersburg Times)

INVERNESS -- Natalya Russkaya wasn't in the market for a husband or a green card when she put her picture in the Family International Catalog in 1994. She ran a commercial photo studio, and the California catalog company was a customer. She volunteered to put her photo in for a test run.

Three months later, the responses flooded in. Mathew Zummo sent a letter she couldn't ignore. A father of two and financial planner, he included pictures of his young children and a multipaged questionnaire about her values, education and feelings about motherhood.

"He was extremely intelligent, a great writer," she said. "When I read the letter I was like, 'Wow, what a guy.' He seemed like such a caring person."

For nine months, they talked every Sunday evening for three hours. His phone bills were ridiculous. He proposed, then came for a two-week visit.

"It was absolute chemistry," said Natalya, who was living in Blagoveshchensk, Russia.

Three months later, she traveled to the United States with her young son. Mathew and Natalya were married April 2, 1995.

Together they run a financial planning business in Citrus County. Natalya, 34, sells property and casualty insurance. Mathew, 49, provides estate and financial planning.

They plan to adopt one another's kids.

"Everything's working out," said Natalya.