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by Mark_Ockerbloom from Dedham

Last Post 1 day Ago


Great story out of Florida where a homeless man is homeless no more. After his company went bankrupt and he lost his job, Ronald Novack called the streets of Broward County home for the past 10 years. But after his mother died recently, the lawyer in charge of her estate began searching for Novack who was in line to inherit a large sum of money. A newspaper article soon followed and the lawyer himself even started handing out flyers with Novack's picture and information. No one could find him, then good fortune struck when the 61 year old went to a doctor's office and the staff there recognized him and called police. Novack and the lawyer, Richard Ansana, were brought together and Novack learned his mother had left him $100,000 as part of her Last Will and Testament!   

Novack says simply, "as bad as things get, things can happen and get better." His lawyer says he will make sure Novack gets some sound financial advice and lives a modest lifestyle going forward, so he doesn't end up back on the streets ever again. A happy ending. Too bad there weren't more like it.
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Member Comments Total Comments: 20
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sirB read my blog
Aug 10, 2008 | 5:36 PM

C'mon, this guy had brains enough to start a company and wound up homeless over bankruptcy? There has to be more to this. Why couldn't he get a job and an apartment I understand times can get tough for anybody, but doesn't this guy have friends or family that could've helped him out 10 tears ago so he wouldn' wind up homeless?

I think this guy has a drug or gambling problem. That $100,000 would go quick if he daoesn't get help. Something isn't right.

Chip read my blog view my photos
Aug 10, 2008 | 5:43 PM

It's too bad it is based on luck.....

sirB read my blog
Aug 10, 2008 | 6:31 PM

If this guys mother loved him enough to leave him $100,000 then she loved him enough to take him in until he gets back on his feet.

This is hardly a feel-good story.

He'll probably wind up homeless again.

Chip read my blog view my photos
Aug 10, 2008 | 6:41 PM

There IS a treatment issue hidden in here somewhere...that's for sure.

Mark_Ockerbloom read my blog view my photos
Aug 10, 2008 | 7:00 PM

sirB, I said the company he worked for went under...he did not own the company. Couple other notes, the reason the staff recognized him, Novacks' mother had been treated by the same doctor before she died in 2001. Also, he hired the attorney a year ago to look into a possible inheritance but reportedly became frustrated with delays, dropped the investigation and returned to living in the woods.

sirB read my blog
Aug 10, 2008 | 7:21 PM

Sorry Mark,

He lost his job. I still say something is a miss here, and still stand by my comment that this is hardly a feel-good story. I think their is something wrong with this guy and he'll probably be broke again in a year.

Just my take.

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Aug 10, 2008 | 8:32 PM

Mark,

I too feel like there’s more to this story that meets the eye. His company goes bankrupt and he loses his job. Okay it happens. You mean to tell us he didn’t have any savings or any family members that wouldn’t have helped him out, especially his mother. C’mon…There has got to be more to this story. If he chose to live on the street that was a choice he made and not something that just happened I’m sure he had other options. You said no one could find him. Well, maybe he didn’t want to be found and was happy living his new chosen life style for 10 years.

sirB read my blog
Aug 10, 2008 | 8:45 PM

Again, he'll be broke in a years time.

I'm thinking he's mentally ill.

fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Aug 11, 2008 | 7:59 AM

Ock, I'll tell you a little story about a guy named Fenwaydav. He had a beautiful home with a good job. It wasn't his Company that went under it was himself. He lost everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) to drugs and alcohol. Granted it wasn't poof overnight, but a period of a few years. His life and possessions wound up contained to a garbage bag. Not being the type that could do street living well he chose to seek help. It is unbelievable the amount of help out there if you want it. Today many years later Fenwaydav lives a nice life in a beautiful home he shares with his cat Daisy.

The Reason I told this story Ock, is No One stays on the streets if they don't want to. As bad as people say the system is, if you need and want help it's out there. The guy you speak of in your story has other problems. $100.000 is a spit in the bucket these days. His mother would have been there all along if he wanted it. Mine was, I just never sort her out. I live a life now thankful that I never had to spend one night on the streets or in a shelter. I thank God every day for The Veterans Administration and Alcohol Anonymous. I am not a man of many prayers, but for me this is what keeps me going now.

God grant me the serenity to except the things I can not change.
The courage to change the things I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference.

My name is David and I'm an Alcoholic.......

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Aug 11, 2008 | 1:25 PM

dav,

Great story and continued success to you Amigo!!!!

fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Aug 11, 2008 | 1:34 PM

Thanks jovanone......

Mark_Ockerbloom read my blog view my photos
Aug 11, 2008 | 6:39 PM

fenwaydav,

I appreciate your sharing your very personal story with all of us. I'm also thrilled to know you are doing well now! With regard to Mr. Novack, who knows what demons drove him to the streets and kept him there for so long. As you know, alcohol and drug addiction are tough to beat. Perhaps he has psychological problems. Still, I believe we can all celebrate this man's good fortune.

fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Aug 11, 2008 | 8:06 PM

Ock, Certainly!

Chip read my blog view my photos
Aug 11, 2008 | 8:08 PM

No more profound words ever spoken, Dave....

And Ock...I normally agree with you, but this time you're wrong. Nothing ever given to you has meaning...those things we struggle for daily do...fenwaydav's right here.

Dramamama read my blog
Aug 13, 2008 | 8:40 AM

I agree with Fenway. People on the streets (for 10 yrs!) are usually there by choice, as their IS help out there. He might have addictions or mental illness. Hopefully, someone will help him use the money to help himself.

Hansonman read my blog
Aug 13, 2008 | 1:48 PM

I think it was Rockerfeller that said if you could take all the money from everyone, put it all into a pile and then distrubute it equally so everyone has the same amount of starting capital, when you came back in 10 years--most of the time--the rich would be rich again and the poor would be poor again.

Cute story, but I'll bet this guy is right back where he started in about 5 years.

Dramamama read my blog
Aug 13, 2008 | 3:16 PM

I always remember that Marriott said he always had at least $1 in his pocket or bank account. He never went into debt.

1sckmnd read my blog
Aug 16, 2008 | 1:23 AM

Why do people always look for a reason to put people down when something like this happens?
As the saying goes "walk in their shoes for a day". I hope he does well no matter what got him to the street. Would you all say the same thing about my sister, who lives with me,she's a cancer survivor,took care of my father before he died from cancer,then finaaly got a new place to live only to burn down a month later and yes she does drink at times and used to be a drug addict.This country need to show a little more compassion for others

Dramamama read my blog
Aug 16, 2008 | 4:11 PM

1sckmnd,
We ARE being compassionate, by saying that IF he doesn't get help, that is AVAILABLE, he will be out on the streets again. The reality is there--and so it help.

KidFresh
Aug 16, 2008 | 5:16 PM

wait
didn't his mother die

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Mark_Ockerbloom

I anchor the Fox 25 News at 5, 10 & 11pm and want to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Member Since: 10/17/2006