$40 Million, No Heirs: NY State Could Inherit Fortune of Holocaust Survivor
The state of New York could inherit a $40 million fortune from Holocaust survivor Roman Blum, who died in 2012 without leaving a will or any living relatives. Authorities have searched for Blum's relatives for over a year but have come up short, which means the state could inherit the money.
Roman Blum survived life in the Holocaust and lived until the age of 97. He had several friends who encouraged him to put together a will or make arrangements for his large fortune, but Blum never followed through.
"He was a very smart man but he died like an idiot," fellow survivor and friend Paul Skurka told The New York Times.
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"I spoke to Roman many times before he passed away, and he knew what to do, how to name beneficiaries," Mason D. Corn, an accountant and friend added. "Two weeks before he died, I had finally gotten him to sit down. He saw the end was coming. He was becoming mentally feeble. We agreed. I had to go away, and so he told me, 'Ok, when you come back I will do it.' But by then, it was too late. We came this close, but we missed the boat."
Authorities have searched long and hard for relatives, but given that none have been found; it's likely that the money will go straight to the state. Blum received large amounts of his money from oilrigs in Alaska and stocks, another friend said. He was a shrewd businessman who benefited greatly from buying properties near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
"Everybody knew Roman. He built hundreds of homes over the years. Last time I tried to sell a piece of property for him, I'd give him an offer and he'd tell me he wanted $1 million more," broker Bruno Betro said.
"It is a heartbreaking story, a tragedy. I spoke with him three days before he died. We were going to get the whole group together and take a ride out to see him that weekend. But it didn't happen and then the next week, he passed away," said Michael Pomeranc, whose parents were friends of the Blums.
