Unknown Millionaire Gives All to Town

Few residents in Brattleboro, Vermont, knew that 92-year-old Ronald Read was a millionaire, but they soon found out after he left most of his life’s fortune to the town. Read died with nearly $8 million in stock and property holdings, the vast majority of which will go to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and the Brooks Memorial Library. People in Brattleboro thought Read was poor based on how little he spent, and they would knit hats for him or find ways to try to help him out. “People were stunned that he had that much money,” said Ruth Marx. “I bought some old fence wiring from him once because I thought he could use the money.”