Anthony J. Ralys: WWII Veteran And Small-Town Barber Surprises Community By Leaving Behind $1.4 Million To Local Library In His Will
Anthony J. Ralys will not be forgotten anytime soon.
A small-town barber hailing from Athol, Massachusetts, Ralys is being celebrated in his local community for leaving behind 90 percent of his estate, amounting to a staggering $1.4 million, to the local library — making it by far the largest gift that the Athol Public Library has ever received.
Ralys died at the age of 89, having operated a barbershop in Athol for almost four decades. While people close to him anticipated Anthony to leave something to the public library in his will, considering that his late wife was an avid reader and a regular visitor at the library, nobody could have guessed that he would quietly name an investment account with more than $1.4 million to the library.
Former library director Debra Blanchard said she could not believe that somebody would donate such a generous amount to the Athol Library.
“Literally, I gasped and almost fell out of my chair,” Ms. Blanchard said of the moment when Ralys’ estate attorney, Pamela Oddy, informed her about the will. “I asked her to repeat it so I was sure she had not made a mistake.”
“That normal hard-working people like (Mr. and Mrs.) Ralys can save that much money and then bequest it to an institution that benefits the entire community is simply amazing.”
Library Director Jean Shaughnessy echoed Blanchard’s sentiments, saying that Ralys’ generosity could not be appreciated by mere words. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “It is always appreciated when someone donates to the library, but this goes way beyond appreciation.”
Even so, nobody other than Anthony Ralys’ attorney knew about the amount that was to be given to the library.
Oddy further informed Shaughnessy that the will is very specific in nature, according to the Telegram, stipulating that the money can only be used for renovations, additions, or building improvements to the library. The director of the library told reporters that the trustees intend to preserve the principal and spend only from the interest, which would be substantial in itself.
Barber saves $1.4 million, gives it to library, newspaper reports https://t.co/VBq72nr3Rb
— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) April 9, 2016
Even members of the Ralys’ family did not exactly know the contents of the will. Thomas Ralys, who served as co-executor of Ralys’ estate, said he could not believe that his uncle and aunt had managed to save such a large amount from investment. He said he was not disappointed after reading the contents of the will, since it was never his money in the first place, but said his sister, who cared for Anthony Ralys during his last years, might have expected a bigger inheritance.
“It never was my money to get,” Thomas said. “He did leave us some. They never had kids, and they really must have loved the library.”
Kevin Mack, a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Ralys, said that knowing the small house the couple lived in, he was extremely proud of what his uncle had done for the library.
“What a great thing to do to donate that to the library.”
That his what the entire Athol community thinks of Anthony Ralys’ actions, too. The WWII veteran and former prisoner of war will always be remembered for his generosity.
[Image via Shutterstock]
