Reclusive heiress Huguette Clark dies at 104

[chiver78]

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38810137/ns/business-huguette_clark_mystery/ for historical archives.

Huguette Clark, the reclusive copper heiress, dies at 104
With her mansions empty, she lived in N.Y. hospital rooms for decades; the criminal investigation into handling of her fortune continues

NEW YORK — Huguette M. Clark, the mysterious copper heiress who became the subject of public fascination and police investigation after a century of life as a recluse, died Tuesday morning at age 104, registered under a fake name at a hospital in New York City. Her empty mansions, and a criminal investigation into the handling of her fortune, were the subject of a series of reports last year on msnbc.com.

The criminal investigation continues into the handling of her money by her attorney and accountant, with detectives and a forensic accountant poring over the many years of Clark's financial records. An assistant district attorney was able to visit with Clark in the hospital, more than once, and to have a conversation with her, in both French and English. A state grand jury in Manhattan issued subpoenas for documents. It could be months before the investigation's conclusion is known.

Though she inherited one of the great mining fortunes of the 19th century, she lived quietly into the 21st century, secluded in a spartan hospital room for more than two decades despite being in relatively good physical health. Intensely shy, in the last year of her life she became a subject of public fascination, a trending topic of searches on Google and Yahoo, pictured on the cover of the New York tabloids, with fan pages on Facebook, a biography on Wikipedia, and her story read by tens of millions — though the last known photograph of her was made in 1930.

After msnbc.com reported her death Tuesday morning, based on sources at the hospital, her attorney issued a brief statement of confirmation: "Madame Clark's passing is a sad event for everyone who loved and respected her over the years," said Michael McKeon, spokesman for attorney Wallace "Wally" Bock. "She died as she wanted, with dignity and privacy. We intend to continue to respect her wishes for privacy." The cause of death was not disclosed.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39006900/ns/business-huguette_clark_mystery/ for the rest of today's news.
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I wonder what's going to happen to her estate now. she spent most of her life in a childlike state, leaving care of everything in the hands of her accountant and lawyers. she had no children.

[kiskis]

Wow, really sad how her large inheritance created so much mistrust and unhappiness in her life. Would love to read a journal of her thoughts during those formative years.

[azphx1972]

Doesn't sound like much of a life. Sad.

[thyme4change]

"cause of death was not disclosed"

What is wrong with some people that they want to know the cause of death of someone who is 104 years old? Did it occur to anyone when reading this to think "Gee - that is strange, I wonder what went wrong that someone who is 104 years old would just die."

[Deleted]

This was always an interesting story just because she was so rich and seemed to have no life. But that's by my definitions of "life" and not hers.

She may be like my 98-year-old aunt who finds modern life not as interesting as we do. Her daughter bought her a Jitterbug, that overpriced cell phone you see advertised on televison. It was exactly what she wanted.

[Nazgul Girl]

My aunt is 80 years old this year, and is still substitute teaching in the public school system from which she retired. She's signed up for 8 different schools and to sub in kindergarten plus grades 1-4, and gets plenty of work. Sometimes, she subs 5 days a week. She doesn't need the money by any means, but does like to stay "active", as she says. She tells the funniest stories about the little kids' antics. Somewhat different than the students of the 1950's and 1960's, but I like to hear about how she handles the misbehaviors. Sometimes, having some wisdom and about a trillion hours of experience in the classroom pays off.

[thyme4change]

How does teaching relate here?

[chiver78]

the same way that not knowing the cause of death does.

I started following the msnbc series when one of her accountants was charged with stealing from her estate. I'm curious to see how it all gets settled out.

nazgul girl, that's great that your aunt is still keeping her mind active. that's one thing that struck me in all the articles I read about Huguette Clark - after her brief wedding and divorce, she moved back in with her mother and continued living a very childlike life.

seriously check out the archive, it's quite amazing how she was able to be so sheltered from anything and everything.

[greenstone]

"On Monday, the day before she died, schoolchildren in Montana began a campaign writing letters to Huguette Clark, asking her to send money back to the state to revive Columbia Gardens, an amusement park and fairgrounds her father built for the miners of Butte. With her sister, she visited the gardens when they were children."

This was the final paragraph of the msnbc article. While a letter writing campaign is an excellent exercise for the children, I think it is appalling that the adults behind this effort thinks it is appropriate to target an 104 yr old woman of questionable physical and mental health for money. I'll bet anything this woman was unknown to them all until the earlier msnbc articles, so they must be aware that she has lived in a hospital and as a recluse for decades. Also, that her financials advisers are under investigation for defrauding her. I'm sure the children are unaware of many of the particulars of the story, but for the adults: it doesn't matter how rich or famous a person is or how good your cause is, preying on the elderly is still preying on the elderly. What a disgusting message to send to children.

I also think it is sad that the mainstream media could drag this poor woman from the seclusion and obscurity she obviously wanted for no better reason than the entertainment of readers. I'll bet some network is planning a made-for-TV movie of her life right now. Yes, her finances may have been mishandled but as she didn't care for the money, I'll bet she felt it was a small price to pay to not have a nosy public delving into her life just because we have an insatiable curiosity for the lives of the uber-rich. She was being well cared for so if there was cause to suspect neglect or financial wrongdoing, it should have been handled by the proper authorities privately.

[sesfw]

This is such a sad time. I truly hope her rest is in peace.

MGB

[DVM gone riding]

I had been wondering, I have read a lot about her, sad and weird but boy that old money bought a lot of beautiful places.

[thyme4change]

the same way that not knowing the cause of death does.

I was quoting from the article. This lady wasn't a teacher - no one mentioned teaching. The old Aunt isn't a recluse or an hieress. I'm not seeing the connection. I guess any statement about an old lady makes sense here.

My Grandma's dog use to fart a lot. So, that relates?

[thyme4change]

While a letter writing campaign is an excellent exercise for the children, I think it is appalling that the adults behind this effort thinks it is appropriate to target an 104 yr old woman of questionable physical and mental health for money

I agree. This lady may have already had her money stolen, and she probably didn't trust anyone and thought that people only liked her because she had money. So, writing letters to her and asking for her money is somewhat grotesque to me.

[Nazgul Girl]

Oh dear, sorry my contribution about my active 80-year old aunt caused so much cognitive dissonance for some of our readers. I made the post during a hurried break at my workplace, and I guess I didn't tie it in well-enough to the Huguette Clark story. Yes, I was extremely struck by the self-imposed isolation she had chosen after her marriage, and felt that it contrasted strongly with my vibrant aunt's life. Aunt June still takes piano lessons " to keep up " her playing. My Uncle Lee, her husband, is quite unhappy about having to give up tennis at the age of 80f for awhile due to a bum knee.

Moving back in with mama was probably socially acceptable back in Huguette's day, but being dominated by your mater was not much of a life to speak of despite her money. But chiver and thyme4change's sarcastic comments were pretty funny. My active, middle-class aunt would like them.

[ameiko]

They say that money doesn't solve your problems, only magnifies them. Her money allowed her to isolate herself while a poorer person would have been forced out into the world and hopefully deal positively with their issues.