Years Later, a Mixtape Still Connects

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 2, 2026

Sara Tretter and JP Przewoznik, whose relationship began in 1999 and survived years of distance, personal challenges, and intermittent contact, married in Portland in July 2023. Their union underscores the power of enduring connection and personal growth, as both overcame significant life obstacles to recommit to each other.

Sara Tretter and JP Przewoznik’s relationship, which began more than two decades ago, recently culminated in marriage after years of intermittent contact and personal change. Their story highlights a prolonged connection sustained through evolving circumstances and life challenges.

The pair first met in the fall of 1999 at a poetry workshop at New York University, where Przewoznik, then a junior, noticed Tretter, a freshman. Their initial interactions were limited, but a summer reunion as counselors at Camp Kiwago in Harriman State Park sparked a romance. Despite a strong connection, their relationship faltered after Tretter transferred schools and moved between New York and her hometown of Nashua, New Hampshire.

In 2001, Przewoznik, a recipient of a bachelor’s degree in English education from NYU, relocated to Philadelphia to pursue a career working with adjudicated adolescent girls and earn a master's in social work from Temple University. Meanwhile, Tretter remained in New York, earned her degree at City College, and later moved to Portland, Oregon, where she continued her career in education, focusing on special education.

The two reconnected briefly in 2007 when Przewoznik visited Portland. Within days, both ended prior relationships to explore their renewed bond, but the attempt was short-lived. After a few months, communication broke down again. In 2009, Przewoznik disclosed a battle with thyroid cancer, now in remission, prompting a renewed, if sporadic, friendship.

Over the years, the two maintained occasional contact. Tretter married her second husband in 2015 and had two daughters. By early 2022, during a period of marital difficulties, Przewoznik reached out with a message referencing a mixtape they had created years before, reigniting their connection. This time, both decided to explore their relationship more seriously.

Przewoznik, who uses they/them pronouns, moved back to Portland, taking a position as a program manager for a hospice volunteer program at Kaiser Permanente. They also focused on maintaining sobriety, overcoming lifelong challenges with addiction rooted in a difficult family background. Tretter, observing these changes, felt confident enough to propose.

On July 19, 2023, the couple married in Portland at the Laurelhurst Club in front of 66 guests. The ceremony, led by the Rev. Jennifer Creswell of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, included a “love letter wall” showcasing messages exchanged during their long and complex relationship.

Their story illustrates how enduring bonds can persist through time, distance, and personal change, eventually leading to a shared future.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.