Former janitor who lived modestly leaves $6 million to library, hospital
Former janitor who lived modestly leaves $6 million to library, hospital
The investments made by Ronald Read, a former gas station employee and janitor who died in June at age 92, "grew substantially" over the years, said his attorney said.
A Vermont man who sometimes held his coat together with safety pins and had a long-time habit of foraging for firewood also had a knack for picking stocks a talent that became public after his death when he bequeathed $6 million to his local library and hospital.
The investments made by Ronald Read, a former gas station employee and janitor who died in June at age 92, "grew substantially" over the years, said his attorney Laurie Rowell.
Read, who was known for his flannel shirt and baseball cap, gave no hint of the size of his fortune.
"He was unbelievably frugal," Rowell said Wednesday. When Read visited her office, "sometimes he parked so far away so he wouldn't have to pay the meter."
The bequest of $4.8 million to the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and $1.2 million to the town's Brooks Memorial Library were the largest each institution has ever received. Read also made a number of smaller bequests.
"It's pretty incredible. This is not something that happens on a regular basis," said the hospital's development director, Gina Pattison.
In addition to cash, Read had an antique Edison phonograph with dozens of recording drums that he left to the Dummerston Historical Society, Rowell said.
"It's really a beautiful machine," said the society's president, Muriel Taylor.
Read was born in the small town of Dummerston in 1921. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school, walking and hitchhiking about four miles each way from his home to school in Brattleboro. After military service during World War II, he returned to Brattleboro and worked at a service station for 25 years and then 17 years as a janitor at the local J.C. Penney.
In 1960, he married a woman he met at the service station. She died in 1970.
Stepson Phillip Brown, of Somersworth, New Hampshire, told the Brattleboro Reformer he visited Read every few months, more often as Read's health declined. The only indication Brown had of Read's investments was his regular reading of the Wall Street Journal.
"I was tremendously surprised," Brown said of Read's hidden wealth. "He was a hard worker, but I don't think anybody had an idea that he was a multi-millionaire."
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/20/former-janitor-who-lived-modestly-leaves-6-million-to-library-hospital/?intcmp=latestnews
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Read, who was known for his flannel shirt and baseball cap, gave no hint of the size of his fortune.
"He was unbelievably frugal," Rowell said Wednesday. When Read visited her office, "sometimes he parked so far away so he wouldn't have to pay the meter."
Nona... Thanks for the interesting article. Nice to see a 'feel good' story once in awhile. Hope you rehab is going well. Take care, be well, and follow the instructions.
dd....You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed the article! Thank you for asking about my re-cooperation.....Rehab is going pretty well as far as my hip healing. We are now working on how to treat a problem with my blood that developed from a transfusion I received while in the hospital. We're pretty sure that is where the problem developed. It's so nice to know; that people care enough to inquire......THANKS!!! I haven't been around much, but, I pop in when I am up to it.
Hope they get things straightened out, Nona.
Guess you won't be trying out for the soccer team any time soon, huh?
Great ''feel good'' article Nona.
Mr. Reed did well, not only in stocks, butin his bequest to the hospital and library.
If I am to die and I know it. I would let California give all I have to my wife though it's not much. I have already written the last note and I'm going keep it, just in case.
She has a letter that I'm not to see and I respect that. I already know that there will be a war with her kids, but I can't get her to go get a will. Under Ciliforia law I get it all and she has named who will get something. The fact is she is doesn't want any of her kids to get any thing at all except one of her daughters who I am to mail 36 cents. I'll do it. None of the family heirlooms and there is a lot. The family silverware, jewelry (again a lot). All then, except to one of her sons blown up pictures.of him playing as a child with another brother before but he grew up to who later died from AIDS the year before I met Joan more then 20 years ago. She still lites candles every year on his birthday. The kids are not to get any money or interest in this house (I will it) probably sell it. It is not going to be fun and she says I can fax him/her a copy of the letter which she signed to anyone who objects
lol......Thanks Feronia....I had a hip replacement, which is healing well, but, while I was in the hospital, I needed a blood transfusion, and now I'm having various issues that we think are caused from the blood I received.......sigh....
He sure did. What a kind generous person he was........may he rest in Peace.
Interesting. I had a neighbor like that. Worth millions and no one knew. He left it to his sister. He was sick and wouldn't go to the doctor, died in his bathtub.
Just saw this. Dang ! You OK? Things will get very ugly!! It's a shame that families get torn apart for what-ever reason.
What would you charge for an instructional video?
Regarding the issue at hand, I wonder if it is too late to change my name to Brattleboro Brooks (my friends could call me Brat)...
He was sick and wouldn't go to the doctor, died in his bathtub What a shame .I wonder why people with that kind of money don't at least spend some of it on themselves. It's honorable to leave money to charities, hospitals etc. but why not at lest enjoy a little of it? I have a friend that is going to will all of her money to the Humane Society and not one penny to her children.....sigh I would never ask her why, but I find it strange. IMHO
Regarding the issue at hand, I wonder if it is too late to change my name to Brattleboro Brooks (my friends could call me Brat)
... No charge for lessons.....
He was afraid of doctors. Both his mom and dad were doctors as was his sister. He had some intestinal disorder and began bleeding, so he sat down in the bathtub and bled to death. He was a very isolated person, but I would visit with him now and then, which was very difficult for him. His house was so run down it wasn't worth fixing up and was torn down.
A fool for living the life he wanted?
How sad.....
What a good neighbor you are.... Like a good neighbor, Nigel is there