Romance sparked by the sounds of nature

The varied tunes of nature are integral to the soundtrack of Aeryn (Daboin) Dillon and Patrick Dillon’s love story.

During their third year at RIT, the pair unexpectedly enrolled in the same partner-based sound recording class. Patrick ’09 (film and animation) asked Aeryn ’09 (new media design) if she wanted to work together on a quarter-long project. The assignment provided a golden opportunity to learn more about each other while exploring the Rochester region.

“When telling stories through sound the possibilities are endless. We’d find ourselves in the middle of a cornfield at night recording the sound of crickets or hauling around a barbecue to record the sizzling noise,” Aeryn said.

The project collaboration was a grade A start to their 18-year relationship.

A mutual passion for exploring nature has carried through every phase of their relationship. The first summer they spent together, shortly after they started dating, was in Maine. Aeryn had plans to work there as a teaching assistant for the season and, rather than spend that time apart, Patrick secured an internship at the same workshop where Aeryn was working.

“It felt a little bit like we went to summer camp together in Camden. We were right by the ocean and spent all our free time swimming and hiking,” Aeryn said.

Since graduating, Aeryn has worked as an advertising and marketing creative director in New York City and Los Angeles at agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and companies like Honey, PayPal, and EarnIn. Patrick spent much of his career on the technical side of the film industry, working as a grip and lighting freelancer.

But, after years of working in these high-pressure, fast-paced industries, they both were eager for a change. Aeryn being diagnosed with cancer in 2020 gave them the final push to reflect on what they wanted the rest of their lives to look like.

“We did the whole big city thing for a while. We’re grateful for those times, but we wanted more serenity and a little bit more of a laid-back lifestyle,” Patrick said.

These days the couple calls the mountain town of Bend, Ore., home. Patrick works as a lift electrical tech at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort and Aeryn, who has been cancer-free for more than four years, continues to work remotely as a creative director. This year, they’ll celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.

“We are very much a package deal of ‘Patrick and Aeryn’ because of how long we’ve been together, but we put a lot of work into ourselves as individuals so we can become the best versions of Patrick and Aeryn that we can be for each other,” Patrick said.