Ellie R. Salky, daughter of Molly and Kenny Salky of St. Louis, and Jared R. Weinstein, son of Randi and Ellis Weinstein of Pittsburgh, Pa., have announced their engagement. 

Ellie is the granddaughter of Lee and Burney Salky of St. Louis, Pat and George Roether of Ogden, Utah, and Virginia Byrum of St. Louis. Jared is the grandson of Leslie Spiegel and the late Arthur Spiegel, and the late Elaine and Robert Weinstein, all of Pittsburgh.

Ellie attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Indiana University, Bloomington. She studied education and is a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Jared attended Indiana University, Bloomington with a major in sports marketing and management, and a dual minor in marketing and business. Jared works in the health care industry in medical sales.

Jared and Ellie attended the same university, but their paths never crossed. Both moved to Chicago and about three years ago they met through mutual friends at a brewery in Chicago. Jared asked Ellie to go on a date and she told him that she didn’t want to go on another “boring date.” So, Jared took her to ride the Navy Pier ferris wheel, not knowing about Ellie’s fear of heights. After some convincing (and a drink), he managed to get Ellie on the ferris wheel and they ended up having a great time — and the rest is history.

To propose, Jared — with the help of Ellie’s friends — tricked her into going back to Navy Pier. Ellie thought she and other friends would be meeting up with a friend in town to run the Chicago Marathon. Ellie and Jared were running late, and Ellie thought they were going to miss them. As she was rushing to find them, Jared stopped Ellie and told her that it was just them. He got down on one knee and popped the question. Ellie said she “was beyond surprised.”

Both Ellie’s and Jared’s parents were in town celebrating the dads’ 65th birthdays (their birthdays are two days apart). Ellie and Jared met their families for dinner and then went for a drink where all of their friends were waiting to surprise them. “It was an amazing day,” Ellie said.

An August 2020 wedding is planned. 

To make a tribute in honor of the engagement of Ellie Salky and Jared Weinstein, please call the Jewish Light at 314-743-3675 or visit stljewishlight.com/donate.