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Family Infighting Plagues Tigers Announcer Ernie Harwell's Estate

March 08, 2019, 11:47 AM

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Ernie and Lulu Harwell

Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell and wife Lulu were like Detroit royalty. They were beloved. Ernie passed in 2010 at 92. Lulu died March 1 at age 99.

But behind their story book lives is an ugly tale, and at the root -- as it often is among families -- is money. 

In a story titled "Ernie Harwell's estate drained by family infighting," John Wisely of the Detroit Free Press writes that for years, the couple’s four children have been beset by infighting and impatience for their inheritance from parents often unable to say no.

The children point fingers at family lawyers. The lawyers point back with allegations of unpaid bills, missing money and alleged mistreatment of Lulu, who battled dementia for years before dying March 1 at age 99. She was more or less broke.

The turmoil wasn’t seen in public, but privately, it weighed heavily on one of Michigan’s most beloved couples, said Gary Spicer, the longtime lawyer and friend of Ernie and Lulu.

“It broke their hearts,” Spicer said this week.“It really affected them, but they couldn’t stop it.”

Bill Harwell, the oldest son, tells the Freep that Spicer used the Harwells for years to boost his own career and then drove a wedge between parents and children.

“He spent all my mom's money,” Harwell said. 

Spicer says in the final six years of his life, Harwell brought in about $3 million from sponsorships and speaking engagements.  


Read more:  Detroit Free Press


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