http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/nyregion/holocaust-survivor-left-an-estate-worth-almost-40-million-but-no-heirs.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0
Julie Satow, the author of the article "He Left a Fortune, to No One," talks about Roman Blum who was a Holocaust survivor that died at the age of 97. He had no surviving family members nor any relatives nor heirs of any kind. Most of his history is unknown; there are no oficial records of his birthplace, his family, children, wife, birthdate, etc. Blum had several houses around Staten Island and he died leaving an estimated $40 million without a will. Currently the public administrator is selling off Blum's house and jewelry and other property to pay off taxes and fund a search project to search for traces of his family. If there is no one to claim the fortune, it will eventually go to estate revenue. Blum was a drinker, a gambler, a handsome man with lots of girlfriends and a successful businessman.
Julie Satow used several rhetorical devices. Her main purpose was to inform the reader about the death of a wealthy old man with no heirs. The tone is pretty optimistic with a slight ironic and humorous tone. The author uses a somewhat attention getting diction such as fortune instead of the phrase "a lot of money." The title itself attracts many readers because it makes them curious and interested. The author organizes the article with the first part as the historical background of Roman Blum then later the future of Blum's fortune. The author quotes a lot of Blum's friends and close people and also public administrators who are responsible for what to do with the money and the rest of Blum's property.
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