Man Mourns Loss of Beloved Partner 56 Years His Senior

A Love Story That Overcame a 56-Year Age Gap
Between a Man and His Grandfather’s Second Wife
Ends with the Woman’s Death at 104

A man who fell in love despite a 56-year age difference has suffered a heartbreaking loss.

48-year-old attorney Mart Soeson revealed his relationship with 104-year-old Elfriede Riit when he visited the court to apply for a visa to stay in Australia, using their de facto marriage as the basis for his application.

Riit, an Estonian who left Europe after World War II, was previously married to Soeson’s grandfather.

Soeson first met Riit, his grandfather’s second wife, in 1996 when he stayed in Australia to study English.

As Soeson’s bond with Riit grew, he visited Australia every year, and in 2013, when Riit was 92 and Soeson was 37, they became a couple.

Soeson stated, “Our relationship began as a healthy bond with my grandfather’s widow, but it slowly and surely turned into a meaningful and loving relationship.”

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However, the Australian Department of Home Affairs did not issue Soeson a visa.

The Department argued that Soeson had not satisfactorily proven his relationship with Riit in court.

They pointed out that he sometimes referred to himself as Riit’s grandson when dealing with government agencies.

But Soeson explained, “I did that because I feared discrimination. I don’t see her as my grandmother. I have never called her ‘grandmother.'”

In a subsequent media interview, he acknowledged the age difference between them, saying, “It’s not a problem when an older man is with a younger woman, but when an older woman is with a younger man, the age difference becomes a problem.”

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While in the middle of a lawsuit for a visa, Riit passed away due to old age.

Riit, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and depression and was suffering from hearing and vision impairments, was forced to move to a nursing home in September 2022 following a doctor’s orders.

Separated from Riit, Soeson regularly visited the nursing home with her favorite foods like chocolate and strawberries.

According to the Daily Mail, Riit passed away in the nursing home on April 20. Sensing her time was up, Riit reached out to Soeson for a final goodbye before she passed.

It is unclear whether Riit’s death will affect the judgment, and another hearing is expected in May.