Gertrude Maxwell, 98: Pet lover or gold digger?
Tags: Gertrude Maxwell, Palm Beach, Palm Beach County court, Save-a-Pet
| Thursday 6 August 2009 11:19 am
193 years combined: Maxwell and Hurwitz (Special to Page2Live)
“Happily ever after” may not come so easily for 98-year-old newlywed socialite Gertrude Maxwell and her 95-year-old hubby, Sol Hurwitz.
Barely more than a week after the two secretly were hitched, a Hurwitz family member filed petitions in a Palm Beach County court to have Hurwitz found incompetent and become his legal guardian.
Hurwitz, the petitions read, can’t take care of himself and is in danger of losing his retirement money, $3 million, to Maxwell.
Maxwell, the late-night TV staple who appears on commercials asking for cash for her Save-a-Pet charity, is supposedly broke after blowing through nearly $24 million in reverse mortgages in five years, according to court papers filed by Hurwitz’ son-in-law, Albert Parziale.
Parziale’s request for guardianship also claims that Maxwell, who has sunk millions in Save-a-Pet, hasn’t paid her staff for weeks and can’t repair her Rolls Royce. Her house is becoming filthy, with cockroaches roaming the kitchen, rooms cluttered and bathrooms “unsanitary.”
And Maxwell supposedly won’t allow Hurwitz to see his family and caregivers.
“The pleadings speak for themselves,” said Parziale’s lawyer in West Palm Beach, Peter Matwiczyk.
Former liquor distributor Hurwitz has five children, and Parziale is married to one of his three daughters, New Jersey resident Jody.
To find out how Hurwitz is partying hardy with his 98-year-old bride, and the poll, look below and click here
At 95, Hurwitz suffers from Alzheimer’s, depression, paranoia and psychotic incidents. He has macular degeneration, deafness, chronic urinary tract infections and incontinence. He recently had two hip replacements. His heart requires a pacemaker. And he’s on at least seven types of medication, according to the court papers.
Still, Maxwell proposed to Hurwitz in early July, after one date. The two eloped to Port St. Lucie July 13 and were married before a justice of the peace. But when Hurwitz returned from the overnight honeymoon, his caregiver allegedly found he hadn’t taken his meds, wore a dirty diaper, and seemed confused about where he was living.
He slept for almost 19 hours straight in his apartment at the fancy West Palm retirement facility Tradition of the Palm Beaches, according to the court file.
Hurwitz then moved to Maxwell’s five-bedroom beachfronter in Palm Beach, where Maxwell’s lifestyle of a socialite has disrupted his routine.
“He is kept out past midnight . . ., accompanying (Maxwell) to late night dinners which do not begin until about 9:30 p.m., social functions, and other Palm Beach events. As a result, Sol . . . sleeps until 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., has stopped exercising, and is . . . exhausted,” the guardianship petition reads.
Translation: The ole guy’s having a ball with his aging Cinderella!
“My observation is that he is happy,” said West Palm attorney David Garten, randomly appointed by the court to represent Hurwitz through this court procedure. “He loves Mrs. Maxwell. He loves living at her home. As far as I’m concerned, they’re legitimately married. Emotionally? They’re both happy. Mrs. Maxwell is very energetic, and Albert looks like a million bucks.”
Hurwitz, Garten said, will fight the attempts to have him deemed incapacitated and the appointment of a guardian.
“He doesn’t want Albert as his guardian,” Garten said. “He’s pretty mad about the whole thing.”
Parziale declined comment.
Hurwitz will be interviewed by a three-person panel to determine his mental state. A court hearing that should set Hurwitz’ future is scheduled in September.
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how much do the dogs get?
What is really bad about this whole thing is the old guy is getting more tail than I am!
I hate to say it but this sounds a little fishy - why would he want to get married? He’s deaf, nearly blind, incontinent, has a pacemaker, and most likely is not lucid most of the time. Why would she want to marry him if not for money? hhhmmmm…
I think we need a new law forcing ANYONE who wants to get married to prove they are sane !!!!
He needs to start drinking Red Bull and taking Meth to maintain the party lifestyle. Party on old coot!
What a waste of internet space, looks like someone was just scraping for a story.
PS Jose, I used to really enjoy reading your column, but lately it just seems that you are just hunting for stories….What’s up?
Only in Palm Beach, and don’t forget Boca.
You left out that the kids are trying to be greedy and want to make sure that they get as much money from him as they can. I hope he wills the remaining monies to charity.
Any takers on whether or not they bumped uglies on their wedding night?
Since when is there an age limit on finding love?
Is there such a thing as a maximum age to marry?
let these two love eachother and live out their days, just because they are older does not mean that they can no longer love and make the best out of their days.
This is just silliness…. come on, its obvious that the children are waiting for the $3 million for themselves and dont want daddy to enjoy the remainder of his days. Spolied brats.
ELF
Deaf and blind sounds like an ideal spouse to me!
These greedy families just kill me. They abandon their elderly love ones while they are off spending their money. However soon as these lonely abandoned people find someone to spend time with them-relatives scream golddiggers. Hint-if you were on your job, it would be no room for anyone to get in to spend (time or money)with the elderly family member. Question,if he was so bad off before he met Gertie-where was the family. Why were they not there attending to him, instead of hiring someone to babysit him-he needed them-yet they did not need him! Yeah it does sound fishy but it is not Gertie who smells.
THE “GOLD DIGGERS” ARE THE THE ONES WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING DADDYS MONEY!
IMO, they have both outlived life expectancy and that they are able to get out and cat around is admirable. Is it impossible to believe that happiness can come at any stage in life? But then I forget, old people are senile, right? I wish them both the best of luck and many years of happiness!
all this is crazy, at 98 and 95, getting hitched after a day! if it were my pops please believe i’d be on the same page as his kids. ok their happy together fine, move right on in with each other, but trust i wouldn’t let my old man get pimped by a 98 yr old hag.
be serious people she proposed to him after one day, she’s broke, but she lives in palm beach, of course she needs pops money so that she can keep partying. Call the family greedy if you want but i’d be one greedy mutha sucka before i let this one night, nightmare get it. Honestly none of you would let ya mom or dad get it in the rear end like that!!
I definitely think the kids are upset they are going to loses their inheritance. or maybe it is the son-in-law who is waiting for the old man to croak. what a shame. money makes people crazy. i mean how much longer are they going to live, he is 95 and she is 98. bet if they do give guardianship he won’t have a dime when he dies.
The children are worried about the 3 million they will lose and not about the happiness of their father what a shame on them. The would’nt mind he drop dead now to fight over the three million.
It’s not like Anna Nicole, the new bride is 2 years from being 100 years old… I’m thinking that there isn’t going to be much of a life for either of them, and for God sake leave them alone, supervise that they are taking care of themselves but let him live what life he has left.
We need people like Tristan on Capitol Hill (see comment # 4).
I find it odd that a son-in-law that has never been to Gertrude’s home can claim that it is filthy. I have known her for 3 years & her home is always immaculate.
Who, over the age of 70, doesn’t suffer some degree of alzheimers, deafness, macular degeneration, etc? That’s why Sol has a caregiver. So does Gertrude. They dated several times in June & July, not just once. Sol was smitten with her right from the get-go. He stated that he hadn’t smiled in months until he met Gertrude. She makes him happy and at their age there is no time for a long engagement! Let’s leave them alone & let them be happy. Shame on the greedy children for putting their father through this. They are thinking only about themselves & their inheritance. I wonder what they would think if they were completely cut out of Sol’s will.
Bad story better kept private- no thanks to you. You show lack of consideration for your subjects as well as your readers. I doubt this is what readers who enjoy “feeling the pulse” of West Palm Beach have in mind when they frequent your page. Your angle reveals the basics of poor taste. You have chosen your content unwisely and thus debased your own forum. You should leave your computer feeling like a real heel, but good luck to you anyway in removing the tarnish-could we please have something now that refreshes your page of its current stink? Here’s one for your Mom to throw in the trash bin instead of putting it in her scrapbook which contains mementos of her son’s “shining talent in print.”
Leave Gertrude alone! They are probably having the time of their lives. Why was he warehoused and not living with his “caring” family members? Go Gertie and Sol!!!
Here we go again … EVIL MONEY !!!!!
Hay Kids Make your on Money !!! How long have you lived off Daddys…
Mrs Maxwell has a purpose in life and work hard to Save Animals .. Do You have any Animals?
But……….if it’s hot, then it’s hot.
Married so soon after meeting - come on! They were 98 and 95 years old. What were they supposed to do, get engaged for a year and plan a big wedding. One of them or both of them could be dead by then. It’s not like the guy married a 40 year old. This woman will pass away around the same time he does. By the way, did anyone else notice that Gertrude shares the same birthday as the town of Palm Beach. Talk about irony.
I have been going to the home of Gertrude Maxwell-Hurwitz on a regular basis for the past 2 1/2 years. I have never seen a roach nor any type of insect, with her housekeeper cleaning every single day, scrubbing the floors, dusting, changing bed linens, vacuuming, you name it. I could smell the cleanliness when I walked in the door. When I witnessed them kissing on the steps, I could see the love they felt for each other. They deserve all the happiness in their remaining years together.
Just let them live the rest of their days in peace!
Sol’s family love him and care for him very much, Her lawyer and handler had Sol (not knowing what he was signing) sign a restraint to keep his nurse and family away. This was the week they were married. His family asked for a pre-nupt to protect both of them, she, her handler and lawyer her refused. Then they just wanted a post-nupt. His son-in-law was appointed by Sol to be his trustee, he is a hard working, smart and dedicated to family guy. His family is not greedy, they want him to receive his meds and proper care. When his nurse saw his surroundings he reported the dirt!!! He was expelled and not allowed to care for Sol. Sol was not aware of what he signed. It is great that they are living together and happy, like 2 litle kids playing!!! His family want him to be happy, but he can’t afford to pay for her major dept!!!! Sol has proposed to at least 6 women in the last 6 months, which you can prove by just asking at Traditions, so please get your facts straight!!!!!!! He is a wonderful, but confused man.
If he has that kind of money, what does he want with an ugly old bag when he could get a hot little chick? That alone proves he’s off his rocker, or just plain can’t see.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Maxwell last year. I found her to be a very pleasant person and she amazed me with her energy and vitality.
At 98 and 95 don’t you think people should have earned the right to decide how they live the rest of their lives without interference from others?
I was also in Ms. Maxwells house (albeit a year ago) and the house at that time was spotless.
Why is it that journalists etc. only want to latch on to negatives and not the positives. “The two eloped to Pt. St. Lucie” - This should be in the Irish (sorry Guinness) Book of World Records - now thats a story!
I think that knowing that Mr.H., is worth well over 400mill$$ and that his soninlaw, a fiscial auditer, that apparently “Stole” Mr.H’s power of attorny will be quite miffed when the courts findings perhaps will be in favor of the old guy! That means that after taxes the “children” would gais some 52mill, each! Now it’go to the dogs! Litteratly…
Interesting to see who wants this guy’s money the most: the wife or the son in law. Don’t think for a moment that the son in law is not after his money. If his children really cared for him, why wouldn’t his DAUGHTER be the one to file the lawsuit in the first place instead of the son in law
I can just imagine the son-in-law’s horror at marrying some lady he hates just to get at her father’;s money, -and now finding out that the money is going to be spent!
Ha ha That’s too bad for the gold-digging son-in-law!
Gertrude is an inspiration to me. I have been to her home many times, and it is always spotless. Sol is lucky to have found her.
I don’t care how old or ill one becomes, there is always a need for companionship. Hands to be held, a hug when you’re sad, etc.
The family members need to get out and earn their own fortune.
If they made it to the courthouse on their own, let them be. They deserve to spend the rest of their lives as they wish. This is so typical of Palm Beach, where the ones who come out winning will be the lawyers both both parties.
To the Hurwiz family. Apparently you weren’t too close
or very concerned about your elderly father when he lived alone in New York. Hmm, now that he’s with someone, you just can’t get close enough; to his money that is. And, for an in law to go snooping into Ms. Maxwells financial records. Pretty sleezy. Why don’t you get on with your lives, make your own money and let these 2 seniors enjoy each other without all the stress you’re putting on them both. Greedy, greedy.
It is an outrage that the Palm Beach Post has sunk to the abysmal depths of slandering an elderly woman, especially someone of Mrs. Gertrude Maxwell’s caliber, who has dedicated her life to so many charitable causes of one, is Save a Pet, and let some hack tarnish her reputation, playing into the hands of the opposition in the middle of litigation. It is an obvious case of greed and wanting to slur her character, in hopes of gaining control of the money, which is miniscule to Gertrude’s standards. Whose Palm Beach mansion are they living in anyway, whose Rolls are they riding in? Not Sol’s.
Gertrude is a woman of passion, vibrate and enthusiastic. It is a joy that a woman of her age is so energetic and it gives hope to all women that it is never too late to find love. In my opinion this article is ageist, a poor stance to take in Florida’s retirement community.
I wonder why so many folk have opinions that don’t know what either one of these old folks are doing, feeling or thinking. The Hurwitz’s are outstanding, loving and kind family members with only their father in mind -if Sol realized he was causing so much heartache he would be very embrassed. Mr. Parziale is doing a wonderful job of protecting a defenseless man. Let this be a warning to all of us - we too shall grow old one day - careful planning can be overturned by malicious one.
Love has no age! We all should be thrilled that they have, once again, found love and each other to enjoy in the senior years of their lives. Obviously, the famly is trying to make sure they inherit as much of his money as they can get, point blank! Even a small child could see that. Any attorney or court judge would rule in favor of the former Mrs. Maxwell, WITHOUT any such pre-nup. It is HIS money and he should be allowed to spend or give it away as he wishes until he dies! I have been in the home of Mrs. Maxwell Hurwitz and it is immaculately clean, neat as wekk as a Museum of Fine Art.
I have dealt with women as clients for over 40 years. I know their personal lives and stories. I cannot tell you how many times children panic when their wealthy, widowed mothers or fathers become involved with someone. ALL they care about is their inheritance. It is disgraceful how greedy children can be. If this were my mom or dad I would send them a big boquet to conrgratulate them. They look very happy to me. These kids better watch out—look what has happened to Brooke Astor’s dreadful son—he may end up in the slammer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrick
C. Byrne
OMBRA Records
How much partying can you do at age 98? Leave them be, and let them be happy. Want to set up some guidelines for spending? No problem! If they are in love, let them cover their expenses, travel and do what they want to do. There will be plenty left over for the “vulchers”
As an animals advocate, i would work for free to keep Ms. Maxwell’s palm beach resident in Zen like atmosphere,as long as she resides there, so she does not have to pay anyone and therefore at least that what i can do to contribute to ” Save A Pet ” organization. Also as a professional vegetarian Chef, i would be honor to volunteer my times to be Ms Maxwell’s personal chef.
[...] And counting is at the heart of battle for control over the multimillionaire’s money. [...]