Jeruza and Maurice would have never met if it hadn’t been for the pandemic. Last Spring, Maurice had to cancel flights to Europe and Africa and a trip to Brazil in August. Jeruza, on the other hand, was working two jobs, completing her Masters, catering to all of her nieces and nephews, and taking care of Mrs. Ida, a mentor whom she supported in her later years. Although the pandemic confined Maurice and Jeruza to their homes, it helped them find each other on a dating app called Hinge. Although they hadn’t been particularly searching for a “life partner,” they both knew once they met each other they didn’t want to look any further. After a few days of chatting on the dating app, they set up Facetime “virtual date.” That first night, they video-chatted for five hours. For the next few nights, they video-chatted for hours until they finally met up that following Friday, March 27th, at Borderland State Park. Honestly, the rest is history. Jeruza and Maurice have created a life-long bond they will bring to the family they have created with his son Andreas. Jeruza and Maurice motivate each other to be their best versions of themselves. By combining their own life experiences, they have become each other’s support system, life coach, personal trainer, and number one person to vent to. They honestly could not ask for a better partnership and family! They are so grateful to have finally found their person, to unite their love in marriage, and to combine their Cape Verdean and Brazilian roots with Jewish culture to make their own Stein Family.