California Business & Estate Planning

Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 10 “Angelina Speaks from the Grave”

 

Angelina has now died- supposedly a victim of Augie’s effort to do away with Danny.  Now the excitement of estate planning begins!

 

 

The wake for Angelina Bari, mother of four, grandmother of six, and a leading force in East Bay volunteer activities for 40 years was scheduled for New Years Eve, despite the protests of the younger members of the family.  Augie Bari, Angelina’s husband of those same 40 years insisted that the new year would not begin without his Angel laid to rest and since the autopsy had taken five days from her death on Christmas Eve, there was just no way to avoid a New Year’s burial.

 

The rosary and Mass at Corpus Christi Church and burial at Mountain View cemetery had gone as well as could be expected.  Several hundred community members came to the Mass, which featured glowing tributes form everyone, even the Bishop.  Now, only one week from her sudden death, it was once again time for the family and close friends to join in a meal celebrating their wife, mother and matriarch.  Of course it was held at the restaurant, and again the fair was the Italian cuisine that had been Angel’s signature for all the years of her life.

 

No one wanted to discuss the events of Christmas Eve.  When Angelina was pulled out of the tiramisu, it was thought by many present- actually everybody present- that she had accidentally consumed poisoned wine meant for her son, Danny.  Augie had, after all, announced just seconds before she died that the wine Danny was drinking would be his last. 

 

Well, it turned out that the autopsy showed Angel had died of a bad mussel in the Cioppino.  It had nothing to do with Danny or Augie.  No one is truly sure what Augie was talking about when he made his announcement to Danny. Augie explained it by saying he was sick of Danny’s drinking, which he felt was the reason for the problems everyone was having, and he was going to commit him to an alcohol and drug center in Santa Rosa.  Well, the police, who weren’t there, believed it.  Somehow the waiters had removed all of the dirty glasses before the CSIs arrived.

 

Augie was really a mess.  “I just can’t believe this has happened, Bernardo” he said to his long time friend and employee, Bernardo Bertolucci.  “With everything that has been going on this past fall, I figured Angel would be the last person to die early.  Why do the good die first, Bernie?  She was such a Saint all these years.  Not once did she stray from our marriage.  I can’t imagine life without her.”

 

Bernardo listened to Augie with the patience of an old friend, but for reasons of his own was feeling a sickness of heart that made him want to run away and hide.  Bernardo’s love for Angelina had lasted almost as long as Augie’s and now he too was left alone to sort out the consequences.

 

Tom Carson and Olaf Swenson, the two sons-in-law of Augie were quietly comparing notes in one corner of the room.

 

“Olaf, “said Tom, “I hope you are as confused about all this as I am.  Augie announces that has hired a Russian goon to take out thugs chasing him; Danny has apparently brought on some kind of financial ruin to the family, Augie implies he is going to kill his own son and then Angelina drops dead in the tiramisu!  This is just too much to handle.  And I can’t get Anna to even talk about it!  Have you had any luck with Maggie?”

 

“No, I really haven’t” replied the giant Swede.  “All she seems to want to do now is work- she is on the phone constantly.  It’s like suddenly she doesn’t have anything else in her life.  The best she would tell me is that I didn’t want to know about this side of her family.  ‘Ask no questions’, she keeps telling me- so I guess I’m safer not to.”

 

“I don’t know”, replied Tom, “It is hard for me to take that attitude.  I want to get Anna and the kids out of here as soon as possible, but she is more determined than ever to stay.” 

 

As he looked around the room in search of his wife, Tom saw the three siblings arguing with each other, apparently over the contents of a handwritten piece of paper.

 

Tom was right that it was the writing they were arguing over.  Written entirely in Angelina’s handwriting, it started with the words, “This is my last Will and Testament and I revoke all others”.  It was dated two months earlier.  What it contained would turn the Bari family on its collective head.  For Angelina had another life that, like all secrets, was bound to come out on death.

 

 With a family like the Baris, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out they are going to have  squabbles over succession.  2010 will give them some time to sort out their problems- or to make more.  Kind of like real life.   

Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 9 “Merry Christmas”

 

Readers will remember that the soon to be notorious, and previously revered, Bari family, have found themselves in a financial pickle as a result of the “help” the oldest son Danny obtained from certain New Jersey relatives.   They have now called the “loan” and want to collect by taking control of the family restaurant, as well as the other Bari assets.  Augie has drafted a troubling will that has his attorney Portofino Van Steel pondering what is happening- and Augie has located some Sicilian-Russian relatives who might solve everything. The action is about to begin. 

 

Christmas Eve dinner in the Bari family was a tradition and a feast that nobody wanted to miss.  Held each year in the banquet room of the restaurant (which closed early for the occasion), each member of the clan, guests and close family associates gathered to savor the best of what an Italian kitchen could produce.  This year, in light of the developments of the past couple of months, there was more than the usual family tension.  In fact it was all that Angelina could do to keep even a semblance of gaiety alive for the children present.

 

For much had happened to the family.  From the perspective of outsiders like Tom Carson, husband of oldest daughter Anna, the whole experience of moving to town was unnerving.  Instead of settling in, Anna had become more distant from him and seemingly obsessed with protecting herself and the kids.  Similarly, Olaf Swenson, the generally clueless husband of Maggie, the youngest daughter, was unsure why Augie felt it necessary to hire a guard to protect the kids and the house and why Maggie seemed even more than before to be focused on her business of trading antiques (actually bookmaking).  So fools and young children were sharing ignorance but not so the family members.

 

Anna and Maggie were well aware that brother Danny had first allowed a massive fraud to be perpetrated by somebody on the inside which resulted in an embezzlement of most of the family fortune.  Then Danny had made things worse by going to the New Jersey relatives to “borrow” enough to pay off the illegal loans and keep the restaurant going.  Two thugs named Vinnie and Pollo were collecting on their loans by demanding 100% control of the business and property, all owned by the same entity, which was in turn owned by Augie, the family patriarch.  Their professed means of collecting was to take out Augie.  Mom, Angelina, was also aware of what had happened, but preferred to deny everything.  Augie added to the mix of dinner party members by inviting his cousin Gondola, now Gondorski Ivanovitch, recently from Russia, but originally from Sicily who was in town to take out Vinnie and Pollo.  Bernardo and Bruno, the two family retainers were also at dinner.

 

The first course, in the family tradition, was raw blue point oysters and raw clams followed by hot fresh linguine topped with the sauce from the massive pot of Cioppino which in turn became the next course with calamari, lobster, crab, prawns, clams and mussels served separately from the soup they had simmered in.  Everyone then relished the “baccala” (codfish stew) followed by platters of cold cracked crab with romaine, anise and celery.  For dessert, the largest Tiramisu imaginable was set out for Angelina to serve.  Obviously, with so much splendor, several bottles of Bolla- both white and red- were washed down.

 

It was during presentation of the Tiramisu that Augie chose to tap his glass and deliver his later to become famous speech.

 

“You are my bambini” he began.  “I will always love you, even from the grave”

 

“Augie, sit down!” Angelina admonished.  “You’ve had too much to drink”

 

“Angel, you may be right, but what I need to say will not wait.  This is the right time and place”, replied her husband.

 

Put in her place, Angelina sat down and waited for what she thought would be the annual gush about family and friends.  Would she ever be surprised.

 

“So, as I was saying,” continued Augie, “The love I feel for you will never change.  Even I, however, have a certain level of tolerance and you have exhausted that” 

 

Tom and Olaf”s heads bobbed up from the Tiramisu all ears.  This was not going to be the usual platitude.

 

“I think all of you know the fix Danny has placed us in.  We are walking afraid in our own safe town- chased by thugs, worried about our children’s safety.  It is time to put a stop to this.  Our cousin Gondorski has agreed to eliminate the immediate threat.  He assures me that as we speak at least one of our threats has had an accident falling off the cliff at Dracena Park”. 

 

To say that Tom and Olaf were stunned would not do justice to the looks on their faces.  And that astonishment was not relieved when they saw the nods of approval from their wives.

 

“But, taking out Vinnie or Pollo will not solve our problem.”

 

“Danny”, Augie said as he turned to his oldest child, “you have not done right by the family.  You have brought financial ruin and shame and worst of all you have brought a bunch of thugs to our town.  I cannot allow you to inherit what we will now try to rebuild.  The wine you just drank will be your last.”

 

At that moment, Angelina jumped up, grabbed her throat and fell over face first into the Tiramisu.  She stopped breathing before she got there.

 

And so the estate planning begins-or at least the estate unraveling.  The New Year’s wake for Angelina will be full of surprises, I would imagine. 

Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 8 “The New Will”

 

The story so far: Augie Bari, community leader in his East Bay town, has found himself in not so great a place.  His son Danny has probably lost the family fortunes to the New Jersey mob and to collect, the boys from Newark are aiming for Augie.  To counter them, Augie has called upon his now Russian Sicilian relatives who have agreed to make their presence known.  Meanwhile Augie is getting worried about caring for his estate (small wonder) and has contacted his well-heeled attorney, Portofino Van Steel to draw up a new estate plan.  His bookie daughter (only we know) and his socialite daughter (everybody knows) have both moved back to town with their new families. 

 

Augie was always uncomfortable coming into Portofino’s office.  Dark oak paneling, decorated in every available spot with paintings of man triumphing over small animals, was accentuated  with  the smell of old books and furniture polish. The place made Augie think of a funeral parlor more than a law office. “There really is no accounting for taste. “ he thought.   “Maybe it is Porto’s  Dutch side that makes him need this dreary place to work.”

 

Porto, used to his clients being what he thought was impressed with his surroundings, leaned back in his high backed leather chair and played the role of the omnipotent counselor. 

 

“Augie, I’m glad you came in.  I want to hear about how everybody is doing.  I hear that Maggie and Anna are moving back into town.  You must be really excited.  But, I am curious why all of a sudden you feel a need to make estate plans?  After all, despite my nagging, you did nothing when the kids were young which is when you probably needed it the most,” jibed the attorney.

 

“Look, Porto, I will make no bones about it. I don’t have time to socialize.  Maybe next time we meet at the club bar.  I need to move fast on a new will because I think my boy Danny has been up to something and I know for sure that he has got me in a bucket of trouble.”

 

“Augie, I need to know what is happening.  Maybe I can help” volunteered Porto.

 

“No Porto, this is a family thing.  Just do the will as I tell you to and you will have done what I want.  It is important that we do it all right now.”

 

“OK, my friend.  We will do what you want.  But it is not right.  You need a trust to avoid probate and you need to start thinking about ways to not give all of your estate to the government” pleaded Porto.

 

“I don’t want to.  Maybe later.  Right now, I feel that will be someone else’s problem.” replied Augie who  then  proceeded to set out what he wanted in the will. 

 

Porto was aghast at what he heard, but took careful notes, prepared the necessary document (it was pretty simple) as Augie waited, and had him execute the will in the presence of Porto and his secretary.

 

“This document is going to create quite a stir if it is ever admitted to probate,” thought Porto as he watched Augie cautiously cross Grand Avenue to his car.  “Maybe I’ll be able to convince him to change it soon.  But if he doesn’t, I just hope I have a piece of the litigation.”

 

Augie had his mind on other things as he drove toward home up Harrison.  Before he got to the underpass he turned right and headed for an apartment on Adam’s Point that he had kept for many years.  It was a building he bought in the early 70’s when the area was really hurting and he felt he had invested well.  He used one of the units as a place for visitors and sometimes exchange students so they wouldn’t have to stay in the house.  Now he had a different kind of visitor, this one from Russia, and he was no exchange student.  Augie hoped he would save his life.

 

 

So Augie has now written a terrible will that his lawyer knows will create problems on his death.  Usually that means somebody is getting excluded, but maybe not.  We will have to wait for Augie to visit Mountain View cemetery before we find out what is in it- unless; of course he changes his mind.  Meanwhile the odds are increasing that somebody is going to provide Porto with some post mortem planning opportunities. 

 

Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 7 “Porto the Attorney Weighs In”

 

Readers will remember that the soon to be notorious, and previously revered, Bari family, have found themselves in a financial pickle as a result of the “help” the oldest son Danny obtained from certain New Jersey relatives.   They have now called the “loan” and want to collect by taking control of the family restaurant, as well as the other Bari assets.  As best we know, none of the parents or children are aware of the problem except Augie, the father who is on an assassination short list, and his son Danny who caused the problem in the first place.  Remember, this is all about estate planning so now that you know most of the characters- don’t worry, there will be refresher courses- the action should begin soon.

 

 

 

The telephone call from August Bari to his attorney of many years, Portofino Van Steel, was abrupt and to the point. 

 

“Porto,” he said, “I need to take a look at that Will you drew up for Angel and me.  There’s some changes I think I should make”

 

“Augie”, replied his lawyer, “changing the Will is no problem, but like I told you before, you really ought to plan around the estate tax.  It may be gone this year but who knows what that box of rocks in Washington is going to do.  Plus, without a trust, you are going to end up paying me hundreds of thousands of dollars in probate fees.”

 

“ Yeah, yeah, I know we should do one of those things, but that’s just too much paperwork.  I just want a simple will and I’ll tell you what I want in it”

 

“OK, Augie.  But expect me to document the fact that you wouldn’t listen.”

 

“Hey, Porto- Everybody knows I never listen!  What’s new with that?”

 

Portofino Van Steel (the Italian from his mother, the Dutch from his father) was a contemporary of Augie and had represented him since he first opened the expanded Augie’s Restaurant on Broadway over 40 years ago.  He considered himself a family friend, had helped the kids (especially Danny) get out of jams in high school and had helped Augie as best he could on all of his property acquisitions.  He knew the Bari net worth to be well over $15,000,000 and was continually frustrated by the manner in which Augie and Angelina held title to property and how they had not planned for their succession.  Now, as he looked over the ring of lights around Lake Merritt from his high rise office, he realized that he would have one more chance to convince Augie that he needed to prevent the government from collecting over $9,000,000 in estate taxes if both should die. 

 

“I wonder why he wants to talk abut his estate now?  It’s not like Augie to think about dying.  I guess I’ll find out,” he thought out loud.

 

Augie was definitely focused on death-his own in particular.  Ever since learning that some hit man named Vinnie was looking for the opportunity to take him out, Augie had swung into action to both protect his family and himself. 

 

Although he had not kept any contact with the side of his family from New Jersey, he had maintained contact with his distant relatives in Palermo.  It was to them that he reached out immediately after hearing from Vinnie.

 

“Hello” Augie said in the thick Sicilian accent of his childhood to the woman who answered the phone.  “ This is Augusto Bari from America.  Is my cousin Gondola available?”  

 

“Augusto!  This is your niece Multibene!  It has been so long since we have heard from you.  Is everything allright?  And how are Angelina and the bambinos?”

 

“Things are just fine, Multibene.  But I need to speak to Gondola.”

 

“I’m sorry, but he’s no longer here.  After the difficulties we had with that miserable prosecutor, Gondola and your cousin Rudolfo moved to Moscow.  They are now Russian citizens.  Based on what they have been sending us, they are doing very well.  I think they are in the import/export business- just like old times.  Only now they speak Russian and have a whole new set of friends.  Give them a call I know they’d love to hear from you”

 

Augie was amazed and a little unsure how to proceed.  His Sicilian relatives were Russians!  After getting instructions from Multibene, and with the help of an operator he surprisingly connected with Gondola, now known as Gondorsky Ivanovich.

 

“Gondo, this is amazing that you are now Russian!  Is the business good?” asked Augie tentatively.

 

“Augie, we have much to talk about, but first, we have had word that you might be in some difficulties with those scum in New Jersey.  Perhaps we can help you.”

 

Augie was stunned that not only did his distant- now Russian- relatives know about his predicament but they were willing to help!  Maybe there was hope for him and the kids, but at what price?

 

 

Yes, what cost will Augie incur by enlisting the aid of his now Russian mobster relatives?  Highland Boulevard in Piedmont is going to get a little crowded between the Jersey relatives and the Russians all looking for each other and for their piece of the action.  At least the lawyer is finally involved for any of you who have wondered what this is all about. But do you really trust any lawyer named Van Steel?  Estate planning only mirrors what we do in our lives- and sometimes those lives take strange twists.  Stay tuned. 

 

 

The Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 6

“Time to Meet Maggie”

 

The weekly saga of the Bari Family is presented to you as a light hearted tale of estate planning gone awry.  Through the lives of this particularly unusual family, you may learn some fundamentals of estate planning but mostly have some fun.  As you will see, however, estate planning is an oxymoron.

 

 

To summarize our situation: Auggie Bari, scion of the family started a successful restaurant business in the East Bay and now has a net worth of $15 million, give or take a scaloppini or two.  His wife of 40 years, Angelina is active in east bay charities and apparently has a long time friendship with the family retainer,  Bernardo Bertolucci.  Their daughters, Frances Bari Carson (Anna) and her husband Tom we have met.  Maggie Swenson and her husband Olaf we will meet today.  Both girls are moving back into town to raise their new families. Recently we learned that the oldest boy, Danny, who has run the restaurant for the past several years, has allowed the entire family fortune to be embezzled without his knowledge and, in fear, he turned to Auggie's New Jersey relatives for a loan.  Last week we learned that his loan was being called, and in order to collect, the mob would have to off Augie and/or Angelina to obtain Danny’s share of the restaurant which is being used for money laundering.  The mobsters wandering around town are Vinnie and Pollo.

 

“Olaf, you are a good man.”  Maggie Bari Swenson was duly proud of her 6’8” Swede as he bent low to get into the dormer room of their new home.  “You can barely fit into this room, yet you were willing to let me buy a small house just so we could be in my hometown.  I love you big boy!”

 

As he so often did, Olaf bent over (even more) and picked up the diminutive Maggie unfortunately, as he also often did, and banged her head on an overhang in the attic. 

 

“Oh my love, I am so sorry!” exclaimed the poor fellow.  “I just don’t know my size, so well”

 

Maggie, who was just short of conciousness, forgave him and politely asked to be put down to an altitude where breathing came easier.

 

Well Olaf may be a bit of a lummox, but he, along with a loan from Daddy, had provided their first starter home in the town she always wanted to come back to.  With a 3-year-old daughter and one on the way, settling into her old stomping ground was going to be a delight. 

 

Maggie was the short and blond counter to her tall and raven-haired sister Anna.  She had always been an athlete and looked forward to volunteering come next soccer season. She was really just a sweet kid and her husband Olaf was a delightful giant who was struggling with a new company that sold Swedish sex toys over the Internet.  While business had briefly flourished, the new recession was attacking every business and his investors were getting nervous. All of his engaging presence was needed at those meetings. 

 

The doorbell ringing got Maggie off the floor of the upstairs room and into action.  “It must be the phone guys”, she thought as she hurried downstairs.

 

Sure enough the PacBell crew was there ready to install her DSL and seven phone lines.   “You know, Maggie muffin, I never to understand why you need so many phone lines for our home,” asked her perplexed husband.

 

“Oh, you big goof, we’ve been over this so many times.  You know I can’t operate my business without many lines coming into the house.  And you know we need my income to make ends meet until yours takes off!”

 

“I know that, muffin, but I still don’t understand why so many just to trade antiques the way you do”

 

“Just don’t worry your big head about it- we had five lines in the apartment and I knew I needed more- especially since I hired Monique.”

 

“Hokay-dokay, sweetie. You always know what you are doing” replied her admiring husband.

 

No sooner had the phones been installed then Maggie went to work as she always did rearranging the finances of her between two and three hundred clients. 

 

“Maggie” the first caller asked. “What you got on the over under for the Bears-Giants” 

 

“22, Gino and I’m crazy to book it, but I got a feeling” replied the number one bookie in the East Bay.  And so it went for the next two hours- her limit each day- until she closed the line on each of the days sporting events.  She was good, often handling 3 to 4 bets at a time.  During major events she had recently begun an Internet play by play or pitch by pitch round that had her fingers flying and the cash flowing.

 

So now you have met daughter number two.  Her interesting career choice may weave its way into the current Bari Family crisis.  What if she dies?  How will her children be cared for?  As always, stay tuned.  Pretty soon this family is going to have to meet with their estate planning consigliore. 

The Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 5

 

The weekly saga of the Bari Family is presented to you as a light hearted tale of estate planning gone awry.  Through the lives of this particularly unusual family, you may learn some fundamentals of estate planning but mostly have some fun.  As you will see, however, estate planning is an oxymoron.

 

Episode 5

How Did We Get Into This Fix?

 

Danny’s first call on discovering the loss was to his long time bookkeeper, Juanita,  who had been on her annual vacation. 

 

“May I speak to Juanita please?" he asked the person who answered.

 

“She ain’t in”, was the reply.  “Who’s calling?”

 

“This is her boss Danny at the restaurant.”

 

“Well, I haven’t heard from her since she left on vacation, but figured she was just off having a good time.  I mean who wouldn’t like Brazil.  She said she was going to enjoy the big bonus you gave her before she left.”

 

Danny was too embarrassed to call his folks or confide in Bernie, whom he knew would tell his Mom.  The restaurant operations had been given over to him 5 years ago and he had done a great job of modernizing the place and the menu.  Revenues were up and a new reputation was being built.  Now it looked like the whole house of cards was going to fall.  Even though it didn’t make sense from a tax standpoint, Augie had always insisted that the corporation own all of the investment property of the family.  Now all of that property, over $15 million worth was in jeopardy of being lost- all because Danny had not been watching the ship.  He had simply been too busy running things to pay attention to what was happening in the back office aside from the daily income tallies, which were so positive.

 

So now the entire house of Bari, everything his folks had worked for- even their home, was going to be lost.  Even the fidelity bond had expired!  Each layer of the onion just made things look worse.

 

So he made a call.  Many years before, Danny was contacted by some members of Augie’s family in New Jersey who at that time were interested in having a piece of the restaurant for the purpose of laundering money from their west coast drug operations.  Danny had said no then but now it seemed that his only salvation lay in accepting their offer: All the operating capital you need for a good return secured by your interest in the restaurant.

 

Danny didn’t have any interest in the restaurant other than what his parents would leave to him.  Neither one of them believed in giving anything to their kids (except annual gifts in very small amounts) so the corporation was still entirely owned by both of them.  Danny would inherit, without a will, 25% of the restaurant.  In reality, however, his sisters and brother would never have anything to do with it and would easily be bought out, or take other property, if there were any. 

 

Somehow the relatives in Jersey took this collateral and kept the restaurant afloat for the past year.  Six weeks ago however, Danny received a visitor who was definitely going to mess up the rest of his life.

 

“So Danny.  It’s good to see you.  My name is Pollo.  I am a representative of the benefactors who saved your bacon- hey I like that: ‘Saved your bacon’. You know, like this is a restaurant, know what I mean?

 

“What’s this about- I’m paying the interest.”  Said Danny.

 

“Well, you see Danny, you’re a good boy, but this isn’t about interest.  This is about ownership.  The boys just figure that if you could do so well honestly, they could do even better under the table.  So I am here to collect the principal that bookkeeper took from you.  You have a week to pay or we will arrange some incidents that will insure that you are the only legal owner of the restaurant- with your sons as collateral.

 

That was six weeks ago and other than some slime ball named Vinnie coming around the restaurant asking for his Dad’s location, Danny had not been hassled.  He knew, however, that his family’s days might be numbered- and that it was his fault!  He had to find a way out!

 

 

[So Danny has upset the perfect applecart of the Bari family. The family fortune is all tied to the restaurant and the properties it owns (as well as its income) and it looks like the mob is going to start collecting on its debt.  Stay tuned to the further sagas of this intriguing family that could be just like your neighbors.  In time we (or possibly just death) will solve some of their estate planning problems.  Right now, they have more important issues to deal with!] 

 

The Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 4

The Bari Chronicles

The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family

Episode 4

 

The weekly saga of the Bari Family is presented to you as a light hearted tale of estate planning gone awry.  Through the lives of this particularly unusual family, you may learn some fundamentals of estate planning but mostly have some fun in the process. As you will see, however, estate planning is an oxymoron.

 

Episode 4

Danny Shows His Stripes

 

“Danny!  What’s the matter with you?”  Bernardo Bertolucci family friend of the Bari’s for 40 years yelled at his surrogate son of the same number of years.  “You’re acting like you never chopped a veal steak before!”

 

Daniel Bari, scion of the Bari family, oldest son, father of 2 teen-age boys and manager of the successful family restaurant was beating on the veal steaks from Italy like they were pieces of round steak from Costco.  “Sorry Bernie” Danny replied to the man he loved almost more than his father.  “I’m just needing to take someone’s head off- and I guess the veal got in the way”

 

“Better the veal than the head. So what’s the matter? You’ve been acting more nervous these past few days than I have seen you since you though Gerrie was pregnant in high school.”  Bernie knew the Bari family better in many ways than it knew itself and Danny’s behavior was not normal.

 

“No it is not normal”, thought Danny.  “In one year I have managed to not only completely mess up my own life, but I have set my father up to be killed, I’ve potentially destroyed the family business, I’ve disgraced myself with my boys and I’ve created a blight on my mother about everything she holds dear.  No it is not normal so to hell with the veal.” and he began beating the dead daylights out of what was left of the calf tenderloin.

 

At 40, Danny was handsome, outwardly successful, a family man with a nice home in Montclair and a wife, Chloris, who had all the Italian spirit of his mother.  He coached in the U-18 league for Montclair soccer, was in the Business club, Oakland Rotary and contributed heavily to not only Oakland but also the Piedmont schools.  Both boys were at O’Dowd, both were good athletes and good students. 

 

Danny however had made one mistake.  The memory of it would haunt him for the rest of his life (however long that might be).

 

Six weeks earlier, Danny was reviewing the books of the restaurant for the first time in several months.  To his amazement, he discovered that not only had there been no deposits actually made in the bank, but loans had been taken out by somebody signing his name all in the high six figures.  The incredible thing was that he couldn’t figure out who had done all of this.  Very few people in the business had access to the financial records.  The bookkeeper, Juanita Peron, had been with the restaurant for as many years as Danny could remember.  Bernie, of course had access to everything, but he was family.  Then there was Mom and Dad.  That was about it.  Somebody, however had both drained all of the accounts of the restaurant and leveraged all of its assets- and the restaurant had nothing to show for it.  It was bankrupt!

 

Turning his attention back to Bernardo, who by this time was simply trying to make himself scarce in the face of Danny’s behavior, he forced a smile and tried to fake his old self.

 

“It’s OK, Bernie.  I’m just dealing with some little things that are getting to me.  Sorry about the veal- let’s get another one out of the cold storage.”

“Sure, Danny, but you got to remember that I am here for you.  We are all family,” said Bernardo. 

 

Looking again at his mentor, he felt like that was closer to the truth than the facts admitted.  Then his mind turned back to the disaster he somehow let happen.  What was he to do? 

 

(Bankrupt!  The entire Bari fortune was now facing oblivion.  What will Danny, or his father Auggie or mother Angelina do?  They have lots of other property, but it looks like that may also have been leveraged.  By whom?  Even though Danny has had his problems with guns and his wife Chloris, he is obviously not a suspect- but could Angela (and/or Bernardo) have done this?   And what will he do to solve the problem?  OK- your turn.  Try to develop an estate plan, based on these facts!  Stay turned to future episodes to see if you are right.)

 

The Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 3

The Bari Chronicles

The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family Episode 3

 

The weekly saga of the Bari Family is presented to you as a light hearted tale of estate planning gone awry.  Through the lives of this particularly unusual family, you may learn some fundamentals of estate planning but mostly have some fun in the process. As you will see, however, estate planning is an oxymoron.

 

Episode 3

Anna Comes Home

 

For Anna Bari Carson driving up Oakland Ave. was a trip into a wonderful past.  Every little observation, like the fact that even in August the liquid ambers were shedding leaves on some of the trees while others, like the ones in front of her parent’s place, would not lose their color or cover until close to Christmas made her comfortable with life.  There wasn’t much visible difference in the community- yet the kids in their soccer uniforms were not her friends or the siblings of her friends.  New families had taken their place- just as she was about to do with her family.

 

Coming back to town after a 15 year absence was what she always dreamed of doing.  When Tom’s company gave him the opportunity to return to the Bay Area, there was no doubt in her mind that they would return to her home community. Now, with the boys in the back seat, her dream had come true.

 

Anna’s husband Tom was also a little lost in thought.  He was looking forward, in some ways to getting to know the Bari family better.  Since their marriage, Tom and Anna had lived in Kansas City and saw the family only occasionally.  Danny in particular intrigued Tom since he had taken over management of the restaurant.  Tom’s company was a national restaurant supply wholesaler, so they always had a lot to talk about.  If it weren’t for his twitch caused by the gun accident he had in high school, Danny would have been a dashing man.  As it was, he was seemingly happy with Chloris, a quiet woman who seemed to be constantly falling down and hurting herself- at least that was her reason to seldom make any of the family events.

 

“Have you talked to your Mom about tonight”, asked Tom.

 

“Yes, she and Dad will host us for dinner and watch the kids while we unpack. The movers should be done by dinner”.

 

“You know, Anna, your Dad has been acting kind of strange lately.  He just seems real edgy and keeps talking about whether the kids are safe or not.  And providing us with a governess named Bruno- well it just seemed kind of strange.”

 

“Don’t worry about it.  Bruno is an old family friend.  His Dad worked in the restaurant for years and he’s a great cook.  At least we know the kids will be safe.  I think Dad and Mom are just going through some problems- Oh look Tom- a homecoming banner!  I can’t believe I’m back!  I haven’t thought about homecoming since I was queen”----And Stan Willer was king”, she mused privately.  “I wonder if he is still in town?”

 

“I feel I’ve come back to all that is wonderful”

 

Tom wondered if the “that” was going to be as wonderful as Anna thought it would be.  Up to now his career and family track had been going awfully well and the move to Anna’s hometown was in part to complement that growth.  But in a town built on reputations, he was wondering whether Auggie”s recent conversation with him was a portense of troubled times ahead.

 

“Tom”, Auggie had pointedly asked the last time they were alone, “What do you know about Anna’s family beyond what you see?”

 

”What do you mean?”

 

“What I mean is do you know about the East Coast origins of my family? 

 

“East coast?   Am I missing something?”

 

“Let’s just say that some of Anna’s relatives are not necessarily nice people.  It now appears that some of that history is coming to life in the present.  Don’t talk to Anna about this yet- it will hurt her mother and the whole problem may go away. In fact, forget what I said.  Just make sure that the kids are always with someone- preferably Bruno”

 

Auggie, Angela, Bruno and the person Anna called Uncle Bernie- Bernardo greeted the family at the house.  It was never explained to Tom (or to Anna, for that matter) why Bernardo was Uncle Bernie, but there was seldom a family event at which he wasn’t present.  Tom just figured he was some relative of Angela’s, since they spent so much time together and there was a strong resemblance between Bernie and Anna’s sister, Maggie, in particular.

 

As they were unpacking some personal effects from the car, a gardener’s pick-up went by and backfired while climbing the street.  Suddenly, Tom found himself standing around seven people flat on the ground, with Bruno grabbing and falling on the kids.  Even Anna was lying on the lawn, looking a little embarrassed.  Everyone got back up, dusted him or herself off, and continued to go on as if nothing had happened.

 

“What have I gotten myself into”, thought Tom.  “This isn’t Kansas City”

 

 

 

(What has Tom gotten himself into?  He’s got a new house and mortgage in town, his boys will be entering school, his social status is assured and his entire family hits the deck when a car backfires.  No, Dorothy, this isn’t Kansas- although the story could be told there just as easily.  Estate planning is nothing more than guessing the future.  As our story of the Bari family unfolds, there will be increased information about what an omnipotent estate planner, who had access to all the facts, would suggest.  In the meantime, get to know these different people who are just like your neighbors! 

 

 

The Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family

The Bari Chronicles

The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family

Volume 2

 

The weekly saga of the Bari Family is presented to you as a light hearted tale of estate planning gone awry.  Through the lives of this particularly unusual family, you may learn some fundamentals of estate planning but mostly have some fun in the process. As you will see, however, estate planning is an oxymoron.

Angelina Gets What She Wants  

 

As she sat waiting for full service at the Shell station, Angelina couldn’t believe her good fortune.  Anna and Margaret were not only moving back to the Bay Area, but were moving back into Piedmont- and at the same time!  That would mean the grandchildren would be in the city schools, she could see them in all their activities, they could come by whenever they wanted- there were just so many thoughts of joy running through her head that she was giddy.  “I knew those girls would marry right”   Now both husbands had good jobs or in Olaf’s case, his own company, and the girls’ convinced them to come home!  She was beside herself with joy.

 

            “Wait ‘till I tell Auggie.”  Immediately, like everyone in the community, she turned her thoughts to real estate.  “The Masterson house on Crocker is for sale and I know Anna always loved it.  With Bill’s new company, Maggie will have to start with something smaller, but Auggie will help with any purchase.”

 

            “Now, if only I could convince the Danny with the boys to come back.  Imagine if they were all here!” 

 

            At 65 Angelina had the looks of a woman in her late 40s.  Well manicured, in top shape and proud of her still trim figure, she cut a swath through all of the social functions at the Claremont Country Club and the many charitable boards she sat on.  She still had a temper, which had mellowed only with wisdom, but not with expression, so she was much in demand on fundraising committees.

 

            Now her dream of having the girls follow in her footsteps-, which had made her so happy- was just too much to handle.  As she reached for the phone to call Auggie, her thoughts turned not to the expression on his face, but to Bernardo and what he would say.  For a fleeting moment she did a “what if”, as she had so many time these past 35 years. “Well at least he will be near when the kids need him.”

 

            She didn’t hesitate to call Auggie on his cell phone.  So what if he hates it, this is important and wonderful news.

 

            “Auggie- guess what!  The girls are both moving back to town!

 

            There was a long pause, followed by a “that’s nice”.

 

            “What do you mean, ‘that’s nice’.  This is the best thing that could happen to us in our old age!  We can live out our years with the grandkids coming by, going to sports events-everything!  What’s the matter with you?  I thought you would be overjoyed.”

 

            “No, my angel, I am. I just have some business stuff to take care of.  Sorry”

 

            “Business- This is business!  I can’t believe you!  Well don’t wait up for me tonight.” She continued.  “I won’t be home until late- I’ve got a White Elephant Sale board meeting.  Oh, and by the way, somebody named Vinnie was by the restaurant today looking for you- said he was a distant cousin.  Did he reach you?

 

There was a long pause.  ”Yes, he did.”  Auggie said flatly.

 

“Well-is he a cousin?”

 

“Yeah, sort of- I’ll tell you about him later”

 

“Well keep him away from the club.  He dresses like a character from Dick Tracy.  I thought you cut your ties to the East coast”

 

“Later, angel, I’ll talk about it later.”

 

            Angelina hung up and pushed number 1 on her speed dial. 

 

            “I’ll see you at six- and do I ever have news for you!”

 

 

It seems that all is not perfect in paradise. Who is Bernardo?  Does he impact the Bari estate planning process?  Or will Vinnie accelerate things along? As our story of the Bari family unfolds, there will be increased information about what an omnipotent estate planner, who had access to all the facts, would suggest.  In the meantime, get to know these different people who are just like your neighbors. 

                                                                                                                        

 

 

Estate planning hints, based upon the Bari Chronicles, will be found at www.tierneywatsonhealy.com 

 

 

The Bari Chronicles The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family

The Bari Chronicles

The Lives and Deaths of a Piedmont, San Francisco and Sonoma Family

Volume 2

 

The weekly saga of the Bari Family is presented to you as a light hearted tale of estate planning gone awry.  Through the lives of this particularly unusual family, you may learn some fundamentals of estate planning but mostly have some fun in the process. As you will see, however, estate planning is an oxymoron.

Angelina Gets What She Wants  

 

As she sat waiting for full service at the Shell station, Angelina couldn’t believe her good fortune.  Anna and Margaret were not only moving back to the Bay Area, but were moving back into Piedmont- and at the same time!  That would mean the grandchildren would be in the city schools, she could see them in all their activities, they could come by whenever they wanted- there were just so many thoughts of joy running through her head that she was giddy.  “I knew those girls would marry right”   Now both husbands had good jobs or in Olaf’s case, his own company, and the girls’ convinced them to come home!  She was beside herself with joy.

 

            “Wait ‘till I tell Auggie.”  Immediately, like everyone in the community, she turned her thoughts to real estate.  “The Masterson house on Crocker is for sale and I know Anna always loved it.  With Bill’s new company, Maggie will have to start with something smaller, but Auggie will help with any purchase.”

 

            “Now, if only I could convince the Danny with the boys to come back.  Imagine if they were all here!” 

 

            At 65 Angelina had the looks of a woman in her late 40s.  Well manicured, in top shape and proud of her still trim figure, she cut a swath through all of the social functions at the Claremont Country Club and the many charitable boards she sat on.  She still had a temper, which had mellowed only with wisdom, but not with expression, so she was much in demand on fundraising committees.

 

            Now her dream of having the girls follow in her footsteps-, which had made her so happy- was just too much to handle.  As she reached for the phone to call Auggie, her thoughts turned not to the expression on his face, but to Bernardo and what he would say.  For a fleeting moment she did a “what if”, as she had so many time these past 35 years. “Well at least he will be near when the kids need him.”

 

            She didn’t hesitate to call Auggie on his cell phone.  So what if he hates it, this is important and wonderful news.

 

            “Auggie- guess what!  The girls are both moving back to town!

 

            There was a long pause, followed by a “that’s nice”.

 

            “What do you mean, ‘that’s nice’.  This is the best thing that could happen to us in our old age!  We can live out our years with the grandkids coming by, going to sports events-everything!  What’s the matter with you?  I thought you would be overjoyed.”

 

            “No, my angel, I am. I just have some business stuff to take care of.  Sorry”

 

            “Business- This is business!  I can’t believe you!  Well don’t wait up for me tonight.” She continued.  “I won’t be home until late- I’ve got a White Elephant Sale board meeting.  Oh, and by the way, somebody named Vinnie was by the restaurant today looking for you- said he was a distant cousin.  Did he reach you?

 

There was a long pause.  ”Yes, he did.”  Auggie said flatly.

 

“Well-is he a cousin?”

 

“Yeah, sort of- I’ll tell you about him later”

 

“Well keep him away from the club.  He dresses like a character from Dick Tracy.  I thought you cut your ties to the East coast”

 

“Later, angel, I’ll talk about it later.”

 

            Angelina hung up and pushed number 1 on her speed dial. 

 

            “I’ll see you at six- and do I ever have news for you!”

 

 

It seems that all is not perfect in paradise. Who is Bernardo?  Does he impact the Bari estate planning process?  Or will Vinnie accelerate things along? As our story of the Bari family unfolds, there will be increased information about what an omnipotent estate planner, who had access to all the facts, would suggest.  In the meantime, get to know these different people who are just like your neighbors. 

                                                                                                                        

 

 

Estate planning hints, based upon the Bari Chronicles, will be found at www.tierneywatsonhealy.com