Thursday, July 19, 2012

The End of Normal: A Wife's Anguish, A WIdow's New Life

     I just finished reading Mark Madoff's widow Stephanie Madoff Mack's book.  It is very sad. Mark Madoff was the older son of the infamous Bernie Madoff. Mark Madoff   committed suicide . Stephanie Madoff Mack wrote about what it was like to live under the shadow of what happened. Her father in law's sins ruined the lives of everyone around him. Bernie Madoff's children were not involved in his scheme , but they suffered from guilt by being the children of a felon. The grief was just too much for Mark Madoff to bear and tragically he ended his own life.
     I have heard a lot of people who seemed happy that Madoff had to suffer the loss of his son. I understand why they are so mad about the damage that Madoff did that they felt that way. The thing is Mark Madoff was not part of his father's ponzi scheme. Bernie Madoff swindled his own relatives as well as too many other people . A child should not have to suffer for the sins of his father when he has not followed in the father's footsteps. Some evil people are heartless anyway so what would devastate a normal person may not phase them .
     What was good about Mack's book is that it shows how deeply one person's sins can hurt another . Even when someone takes responsiblity for their sins it may not matter when they damage so many others especially loved ones along the way. A lot of people think that dishonesty is okay so long as they don't get caught. This book is here to tell you what happens when someone is caught and what it does to all those caught up in the web.
     Unfortunately I know of others who have committed lesser scale ponzi schemes. The results no less devastating. It is so important to be honest in business. Let Stephanie Madoff Mack's book be that cautionary tale. Her life was destroyed due to her former father in law's sins. Don't let this happen to you or anyone else you love.

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