I was in public accounting practice in 1995 when a client asked if I was willing to be successor trustee for his living trust which included the creation of a special needs trust for his mentally disabled daughter, Susan, on his death. I agreed. When he died ten years later, I created the trust from his estate.

I met Susan for the first time at her father’s memorial service. I had heard a lot about her from relatives. It was not a pretty picture that had been painted of Susan, who was then in her forties. I think a lot of people were afraid of her. She was rather eccentric and still is.