2AB.  Truman John Gilbert was born in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, June 16, 1963. Paula Renee Zyats was born in Peckville, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, November 3, 1963. They were married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 2, 1989. She did not change her name. He is the son of Walter John and Sandra Jean (Borden) Gilbert. She is the daughter of Paul John and Jean Frances (Kovaleski) Zyats. They had two children:

Truman, Mary Paula, Walter "Will" September, 2003

Truman and Paula met at the Philadelphia College of Art where they both completed a four-year program, he in industrial design, and she in fashion design. He found his niche in toy design and contracted to then worked for Tyco Toys. When Tyco was acquired by Mattel, he stayed on and worked in several different lines. He was the designer of the Dyno-Riders series in the 1990s, then moved into radio-controlled toys, doing many other projects as well.

Paula began working as a rare book conservator for a private library in Philadelphia. Deciding that this was her future, she was admitted to an intense two-year program by the University of Delaware and Wintertur leading to certification. Her specialty is the restoration of rare books and manuscripts of paper, vellum, leather, etc.

• Walter Gilbert