Katharine Ann Moser and Jaclyn Marguerite Conklin first crossed paths in June 2020 while working at Elderwood of Uihlein, a long-term care facility in Lake Placid, New York. Both engaged in temporary healthcare assignments—Moser as an occupational therapist and Conklin as a physical therapist—the two wore masks and adhered to strict Covid-19 protocols. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and professional distancing, their relationship evolved from casual acquaintance to romance over the following year.
Moser, 45, grew up in an Irish Catholic family in Queens, New York, and Waterbury, Connecticut. She holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania and a doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Utah. In 2005, Moser learned through a DNA test that she carries the gene for Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative condition. This diagnosis, which has a near-certain onset of symptoms in mid-adulthood, profoundly shaped her life and relationships.
Conklin, 36, grew up on a tree farm in Reading Center, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree in health science and a doctorate in physical therapy from Nazareth College in New York. Before developing a romantic relationship with Moser, she had only dated men. Their friendship deepened over time, with both acknowledging the shift toward romance during a camping trip in upstate New York in September 2021.
Their connection endured despite the temporary nature of their initial work assignments. After Conklin’s contract in Lake Placid ended in October 2020, and later when she moved to Cooperstown, the two maintained regular contact. By summer 2021, Conklin returned to Elderwood on a new contract and rented a room from Moser, who had taken a permanent position there and purchased a house in nearby Saranac Lake.
For Moser, openness about her Huntington’s diagnosis was an essential aspect of her personal relationships. She typically disclosed her genetic status by the third date when pursuing romantic connections. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the onset and progression of her condition, she has so far not developed symptoms.
Their relationship continued to flourish after relocating to Edinburgh, Scotland, where Conklin pursued a private pilot’s license while they lived together. Following additional aviation training in the United States, the couple expanded their household with two dogs and purchased a home in Bozeman, Montana.
In October 2026, Moser and Conklin were married at the former St. Mark’s Church in Warren, Rhode Island. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Virginia Army, an Episcopal priest at St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Approximately 120 guests, including family members such as Conklin’s parents, Harmony Hendricks and Edward Sigel, and maternal grandmother Jane Hendricks, attended the event. The bride’s parents, Hadley and Peter Arnold—both architects—had restored the historic church into a residence and community space.
The wedding featured personalized touches, including a musical composition performed by family friends, a seafood dinner, and a pistachio cake with buttercream frosting. The couple’s first dance was a swing dance to Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” practiced during their time in the mountains. The ceremony and celebrations marked a new chapter for Moser and Conklin, whose partnership has endured through professional transitions, geographic moves, and personal challenges.