Recently here at the Niles West News, we held a cutest couples contest. But there was one glaring omission of Niles West’s biggest power couple: the bromance between social studies teachers Joseph Edwards and Matthew Wiemer. Walking down the halls, one can often hear Wiemer calling out to his “BFFL,” Edwards.

Perhaps it was fate that brought the two together, as Wiemer ended up meeting Edward’s wife before Edwards himself.

“I was his mentor when he was a new teacher, and then we go to know one another,” Edwards said. “It was just kind of coincidental too, my wife had his father as a teacher in middle school, and that his dad had brought both Mr. Wiemer and his brother in one time, so my wife actually met him before I did. It was just kind of a strange coincidence.”

Initially, the two got to know one another over their similar tastes in music and senses of humor.

“I think early on when I started here, Mr. Edwards was already here, and I think then at some point we discovered we liked the same type of music,” Wiemer said. “So then I think we kind of bonded over music. I think I telling him I was going to see some concert. I asked him if he had heard of whatever person and he said, ‘Oh yeah!” and then we realized we liked the same music and we have very similar senses of humor.”

Often, as English teacher Lia Sosa describes, it’s the little things that are truly representative of their bromance.

“During one professional development session, everybody brought their lunches and Mr. Wiemer and Mr. Edwards went and sat right next to each other, and almost in a synchronized effort, they pull out the exact same thing from each of their lunches, which was carrots and hummus,” Sosa said. “And then they looked at each other, and laughed, and proceeded just to eat their carrots and hummus. Their lunches were as in sync as their friendship.” 

One of the best memories the two have of each other is their time together on the executive board of the teacher’s union, where they were sometimes disruptive due to their conversations.

“For a long time, we were on the exec board of the union and so then we would go to a lot of meetings together,” Edwards said. “We would bother all the other members who would try to get productive work done by just sitting there whispering and giggling about things,” Wiemer said.

Outside of school, the two bond over various things they have in common, such an interest in politics, music, and television shows.

“We talk a lot about politics and what’s going on and also share jokes and funny things we’ve seen on the internet, as well as then have serious talks about issues with students or that kind of thing,” Wiemer said. “We’ve gone to concerts before, we’re big fans of Sufjan Stevens. And then we have the common interest of TV shows, so we’re both obsessed with the show “The Americans,” so usually, when there’s a finale or premiere or something like that of a show we both like, I’ll go over to his house and we can hang out and watch it.”

Social studies teacher Angela Tzortzis, who is witness to the bromance every day, believes it’s their humorous sensibilities that make their friendship so strong.

“What you need to know about is that they find each other mutually hilarious. Even if no one else is laughing, they are giggling at each other’s jokes,” Tzortzis said. “I think it’s funny that they both have brothers of their own, but they are sort of brothers in the office. They speak the same language, they finish each other’s sentences. If they were picking a dodgeball team, Wiemer would pick Edwards and Edwards would pick Wiemer. It’s definitely a bromance to the umpteenth degree. They actually have intellectual conversations sometimes, but most of the time they jab at each other and make each other laugh.”

According to Niles North social studies teacher Pankaj Sharma, who previously taught at Niles West alongside Edwards and Wiemer, any teacher would be so lucky to have such a close friendship with one of their peers.

“Their bromance is legendary and the envy of many. They truly enjoy each other’s company and have been trusted friends for each other for many, many years,” Sharma said. “Everyone should be lucky enough to find such a perfect buddy sitting only about 15 feet away from them at work. They once even took a blacksmith and metal working class together and forged metal coat racks. No joke.”