When Robert Minondo met Eileen Fitzpatrick two decades ago, they became fast friends and remained that way until one New Year’s Eve.

Paula Sapion Miranda dazzled Deidre Olsen — who also lived in Germany — with colorful flowers and a line from a Pablo Neruda poem.

Shuo Chen and Gorick Ng were introduced in 2012 when both were in college and he was seeking some professional advice from her. They didn’t become a couple until almost 10 years later.

Harvey Starin first considered Dorine Seidman, a former president of their homeowner’s association, “stern and scary.” That changed.