Dolvett Quince is known as an entrepreneur, fitness model, actor, podcast host, and personal trainer, especially recognized for his role on six seasons of The Biggest Loser. However, before his career took off, he experienced life as a child in foster care. A compassionate social worker made a significant impact during this tough time, changing his life for the better. Quince was separated from his mother at the age of ten and was later adopted along with his siblings. He shared that he was only five when his father left home. Quince noted that his mother was so determined to reunite with him that she neglected her other children, leading to their separation by the police.
Quince and his siblings were eventually adopted by a Jamaican couple, but the home came with strict discipline. He described his adoption as a mix of good and bad, saying that while it was wonderful to have loving parents, their old-fashioned methods included harsh punishment. During this challenging time, one social worker made a difference. She worked hard to keep Quince and his siblings together and created a special gift for him to help remind him of his value and history.
This social worker one day asked Quince about his favorite color, and when they met again, she brought him an orange book. Inside were handwritten details about his life, including his birth date, the hospital where he was born, his family tree, and childhood photos. The last pages were left blank so he could add to it later. Quince named this book “It’s Gonna Be Okay,” and it became a source of comfort as he sometimes struggled to remember his past.
As time went on, Quince built a successful life but always remembered the special social worker who helped him, although he had forgotten her name. Upon revisiting the book, he found the name he sought: Lois Huntziger. Despite having this information, Quince is finding it difficult to locate her. He has joined forces with Upworthy’s Pls.Find Instagram page, which connects people with those who have had an impact on their lives. In a post, Huntziger is described as a social worker in Stamford, Connecticut, during the late 1970s to early 1980s, likely with the Department of Children and Youth Services, which later changed to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Quince recalled that she was around 30 years old at the time, making her in her late 70s to early 80s now. If anyone has information that could help, they are encouraged to send a direct message to the Pls.Find Instagram page. What do you think about Quince’s search for this important figure in his life?
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Source: Upworthy, by Heather Wake