As of March 20, the Steinglasses sent the following update: At about midnight last night, our younger son, Chad, who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., found tickets to London on British Airways. 

State Representative Victoria Doudera, D-Camden, is working to help two of her District 94 constituents and longtime friends who are stranded overseas due to COVID-19, according to a news release from Doudera, March 19.

Vic and Marsha Steinglass of Rockport, 74 and 73, respectively, are unable to return to Maine from Morocco as airlines there have cancelled flights to the United States.

The couple arrived in Marrakech, Morocco, March 3 from the city of Praia in the Republic of Cabo Verde, a chain of islands 350 miles west of Dakar, Senegal.  Since their arrival they have twice booked flights home, first into JFK, and then into Montreal, but all flights were cancelled.

Doudera spoke earlier today to U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree’s office in Washington regarding the couple’s situation.

Staff member Rona Fayed said that the American Embassy in Morocco and the State Department have asked the Moroccan government to let U.S. citizens return home. Senator Susan Collins’ office in Bangor said they will reach out to the Embassy, as well.

Doudera is corresponding with the Steinglasses via email and says their spirits seem good, considering the circumstances.

“Marsha says that the streets are fairly empty, even the Médina, which is usually teeming with people,” Doudera wrote. “The King has closed down most businesses, except for food and pharmacies, and most people are wearing masks and gloves.”

Vic and Marsha Steinglass are longtime residents of Rockport, where Vic practiced as a veterinarian at Camden Hospital for Animals and Marsha worked as a real estate agent.

“They are well-known and well-loved fixtures in our community,” Doudera said. “I’m hoping that by publicizing their plight, someone may have a connection that can help get them home.” 

Doudera serves the towns of Camden, Islesboro and Rockport in the Maine House of Representatives.  She can be reached at Victoria.Doudera@legislature.maine.gov.