Page 26 - Boca ViewPointe - August '24

Page 26, Viewpointe August 2024
Book Review

The Book Of Charlie: Wisdom One of Charlie’s high Charlie was married more than once. Life was not
From The Remarkable Life Of school buddies owned a 1917 always ideal. In his final years he was interviewed many
times by the media and asked about his philosophy of life.
Model T Ford touring car with
A 109-Year-Old Man bicycle fenders, Chesterfield “I haven’t given it much thought,” he would reply, except
seats and a fold-up canopy. to add that his mother’s advice to “Do the right thing”
By Nils A. Shapiro Several of the guys decided covers a lot of situations. But among the items Charlie’s
to set out for California after family found when he was gone was a single sheet of
David Von Drehle was their graduation in May 1922, notepaper on which he had written a list of 15 definitive
already a noted writer—a taking on farm work to pay rules that serve perfectly as a guide to a successful life.
columnist and editor at the their way cross country. I will list only five here and urge you to read this book
Washington Post and author The description of that trip to get the full terrific story … and the other 10 secrets
of four earlier successful includes instructions on how you will want to know of Charlie’s well-lived life:
books—when he decided to to drive that Model T. Savor special moments.
move with his wife and four Charlie volunteered and Cry when you need to.
young children to Kansas served in the U.S. Army Air Force. When anesthesia was Feel deeply.
City, Mo. But he had no idea discovered as a way to ease patients’ suffering, he was trained Take a chance.
when he first met the elderly in its application and became one of the military’s leading Enjoy wonder. 
neighbor who lived in the house across the street, who said anesthesiologists, training many others under his command.
he was “washing his girlfriend’s car,” that it was a moment
that would change his life forever.
For that man was Charlie White, already 102 years What’s Better: Life Estate Deed or Revocable Living Trust
of age—a retired physician who had been born before
the invention of radio and lived long enough to use a By Martin Zevin, Attorney right to sell the property during your lifetime or make any
smartphone; a man born soon after the first flight of the There are several ways to other changes to the Deed without the permission of your
Wright Brothers who later watched man’s landing on the avoid probate on your home children. The Enhanced Life Estate Deed has very specific
moon, and whose own medical practice began before the when you die. If you are single, legal language in order to be effective; therefore, do not
discovery of penicillin, was limited to comforting the there will be probate when you attempt to do this on your own.
Even with the Enhanced Life Estate Deed, there are risks,
die unless you choose one of
patient so that the body could heal itself … and continued the following options. If you particularly if either of your children has a bankruptcy,
through the discovery of antibiotics and today’s latest are married and own your home outstanding judgment or undergoes divorce. The worst risk,
pharmaceutical and surgical advances. together, your surviving spouse however, is if, God forbid, your children die before you or
But from the friendship that developed between these will not have probate; however, with you in a common accident. Your children’s estates
two men, and which prompted this bestselling book, was the there will be probate when the would then become the owners of the property once you
author’s evolving awareness of the extraordinary wisdom second of you passes away, unless one of these options is died, which would result in probate being required. Thus, the
and positive philosophy that had enabled Charlie to survive done. main purpose of the Life Estate Deed is not accomplished.
all that life had placed in his path those many years. He had Let us assume that you own your home jointly with your The best way to avoid probate on your home is to do a
taken to heart the lesson his mother had taught him from an spouse and that you have one child. Both of you desire to Revocable Living Trust. When you sign the Trust, you also
early age: Do the right thing. have your child inherit your home when you both pass away. sign a Deed transferring the property to you as Trustees of
For Von Drehle, this became an opportunity to pass along The first option would be to add the name of your child your Trust. You are able to keep your homestead exemption,
to the Deed as a joint tenant with right of survivorship. This maintain complete control of the property during your
to his own children the kinds of lessons he had always hoped is not a good idea. It would affect your ability to claim your lifetime and make amendments to your Trust without
he could provide for them. full homestead exemption. In addition, you lose control of changing the Deed. There are no risks involved, since
The following excerpt makes it clear that everyone your property and can only sell it if your child agrees and your children’s names do not appear on the Deed. The only
fortunate enough to read this wonderful book can derive signs all closing documents. If you wanted to take the child disadvantage of the Trust is that it will cost more money
that same benefit: off the Deed, you would be unable to do so. If your child in attorney’s fees. When you discuss the options with your
“Charlie was a man of science. As a physician, he knew files for bankruptcy, has an adverse judgment or files for attorney, you should discuss the difference in fees between
how the human body goes—and how it stops. He was the first divorce, your property could be subject to liens or other the Trust and the Life Estate Deed. You can then determine
to say that his extraordinary life span was a fluke of genetics legal action. Therefore, I recommend against a Deed with whether it is worth saving the money and taking the risks
and fortune. Still, as I’ve reflected on this remarkable friend, your child as a joint tenant with right of survivorship. involved in the Life Estate Deed.
I’ve come to see that he was more than a living history lesson, The second option is a Life Estate Deed. There are two I am available for a free personal meeting or phone
and more than just the winner of a genetic Powerball. He was types of Life Estate Deed: regular and Enhanced (also consultation regarding Estate Planning. Call me at (954)
referred to as Lady Bird). The regular Life Estate Deed 569-4878. My address is 3275 W. Hillsboro Blvd.,
a case study in how to thrive—not just survive but thrive— requires that your children join in any sale or other changes Suite 204, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442. My website
through any span of years, short or long. People often asked on the Deed; therefore, you have lost control and cannot is www.martinzevinpa.com and my e-mail address is
him about the secret of longevity, and Charlie was always take your children’s names off the Deed if you choose to martinzevin@netzero.com.
scrupulously honest: there’s no secret, just luck. But if he do so. The Enhanced Life Estate Deed gives you the sole
knew no secrets to a long life, he knew plenty about a happy
life. Through tragedy and loss, poverty and setbacks, missteps Paid Advertisement
and blown chances, he maintained a steadiness, an evenness,
and a self-reliance that today might be called resilience. He
had a gift for seizing joy, grabbing opportunities, and holding
on to things that matter. And he had an unusual knack for an
even more difficult task: letting go of all the rest.”
There were many highs and lows in a life as long as this.
And witnessing them over more than a century through
Charlie’s eyes is a remarkable experience, especially in
the words of such a gifted writer. As just a few of many,
many examples:
Dr. Charlie White’s medical career began in the depths
of the Great Depression of the early 1930s, when making Scott Cohen is Here to Help!
house calls was a typical way to treat patients. The situation
sometimes called for the emergency removal of a child’s Your fellow Boca Pointe Resident is available to
tonsils. At such and similar occasions, parents who literally help with Property Insurance Claims to ensure
could not afford a nickel in payment instead invited the your insurance company treats you fairly!
doctor for dinner or offered anything he would like to take
from their cupboard. Do You Have an INSURANCE CLAIM?
Charlie had a tough childhood. His father, whom he loved
dearly, was a pastor. One day, when the man was entering the ● Water damage? ● Fire?
elevator in an office building the inexperienced operator of the ● Roof leak? ● Mold?
elevator accidentally raised it and Charlie’s father slipped and
fell many floors into the empty chute and was killed. Charlie’s ● Damaged floor tile? ● Storm damage?
mother was left with five children and no source of income. ● Plumbing leak? ● Kitchen/Bathroom damage?
● Cabinet damage?
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