Dedman writes, despite her odd obsessions and choices, Ms. An artistic woman who spent years studying painting, photography and Japanese culture, Ms. Clark commissioned doll clothes from Dior and miniature houses from some of the most skilled craftsmen in U. When pieces were not made to her specifications, she was polite but firm, insisting on modifications.
She managed her properties in much the same way. After a stand of trees was wiped out by a storm, she not only demanded that they be replanted, but made the staff redo it twice until she was satisfied. Peri became her confidant and near-constant companion for the rest of her life, working 12 hour days, seven days per week.
Peri has always defended her windfall with the argument that she devoted her life to Ms. While the two women appear to have been extremely close, a few details give pause.
Secondly, one incident, as described in Empty Mansions , stands out. When Ms. Clark contracted pneumonia at age 98, Ms. Peri immediately phoned Ms. Karl Obert, from the book Empty Mansions.
Clark entered when she was 84, emaciated and disfigured from basal cell carcinomas that had eaten through her right cheek and left lip. At one point, the hospital sent in one of Ms. Dedman told The Observer. When she offered it for sale, so she could bestow more gifts on her friends and staff, it led to the disclosure of her reclusive lifestyle. Her hearing was poor in the right ear, but she could hear well out of her left if one talked right at it, and she refused a hearing aid.
Hadassah bought a telephone with big numbers and adjustable volume, but Huguette refused to use it, saying she could hear fine with the regular phone. Doctors and nurses described Huguette as a woman who knew her own mind. Yes meant yes, and no meant no. The regular hospital staff rarely saw Huguette.
One exception was in , when Hadassah herself was in the hospital for back surgery. Huguette arranged for Hadassah to be in a room just down the hall, two or three doors away. Huguette then went to visit Hadassah, dressing up in street clothes and walking down the hall. She wore her favorite Daniel Green shoes. Very loving. Very respectful. Love people.
Very refined lady. Very cultured. Good heart— good soul and good heart. Never hurt anybody. Very, very generous, Madame. Singman said he saw that Hadassah and Huguette were very close. Here is a recording from about , when Huguette was Hadassah: Madame, I love you. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know. Read the earlier will. Six weeks later, she signed a more detailed will naming specific beneficiaries and cutting out the family. The head of the attorney general's charities bureau, Jason Lilien, has told parties in the case that his office was working aggressively to protect the charitable interests.
That office made sure that the beneficiaries in confidential relationships with Clark — her nurse, attorney and account — received nothing. Which Bellosguardo Foundation? Clark's will established a Bellosguardo Foundation to foster the arts and stated that it should receive the property known by that name, the Clark summer home overlooking the Pacific at Santa Barbara, as well as Clark's art collection and cash.
The deal reached Tuesday provides much of what Clark intended to the foundation, but made changes that led to an appeal. One of the named trustees, Clark's California attorney, established a Bellosguardo Foundation in California, but the settlement left that group out of the deal. Instead a new Bellosguardo Foundation will be formed in New York.
The judge had allowed the California group to take part in the court case in New York right up until it objected to the settlement — at which point the relatives objected to the California group being in the case. The legal quandary is this: The will set up the foundation, but until the will is determined to be valid by a judge or jury, does the foundation exist, and can it be represented in court? The law on this question is thin.
Judge Anderson ruled after a secret hearing that the California foundation can't be represented. Read the decision. The California group filed an appeal on Monday. That question could ultimately end up in federal court. So expensive to repair. You cannot drive it anywhere. You scared somebody going to bang it… It's hell.
My kids don't enjoy it. You are scared somebody going to steal it. I don't know why we buy this stupidity, you know. Hadassah and Huguette had their spats. In late they had a serious disagreement and Hadassah finally took some time off. There was a long discussion among Huguette and her circle about whether she should fire Hadassah.
But soon Hadassah was back. Huguette showed great empathy for any problem Hadassah's family had. She gave them money for Hadassah's brother, who had trouble finding work, and paid for breast cancer treatment for his daughter. Hadassah disputed the idea that mentioning family issues was her way of asking Huguette for gifts.
We always talk about our lives; we talk about anything, you know, and she always ask my family… Daily talk, of course. It is like a family. For almost 14 years I stayed more in Madame's room than in my house. I work 12 hours… My husband is a mother and father while I'm working with Madame. Family vacation I miss when the kids were growing up. Because she never wants me to take off. She is uncomfortable with other people.
Of course, one must keep that amount in perspective. Hadassah was asked, years later, whether she questioned the ethics of accepting large gifts from her patient. Hadassah showed no hint of embarrassment or doubt, only entitlement, saying she didn't know of any rules, and besides, she was an independent contractor, not a hospital employee. He was needed for just a minute to witness the signing of a document.
It was 19 April and the copper king's daughter was about to sign her last will and testament. The entire event took five minutes at most. Huguette sat on the side of the bed. Bock's secretary recalled that Hadassah helped Huguette hold the pen to direct where to sign but said there was no sign of any distress or coercion.
Other witnesses said they didn't recall Hadassah helping her hold the pen. The key paragraph was this: "I intentionally make no provision in this my Last Will [and] Testament for any members of my family, whether on my paternal or maternal side, having had minimal contacts with them over the years.
The persons and institutions named herein as beneficiaries of my Estate are the true objects of my bounty. Huguette died early on the morning of 24 May , two weeks short of her th birthday. Hadassah was by her side at the end.
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