The owner of $1.2BILLION Scholastic Corp. - which publishes books like 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' and 'Magic Schoolbus' - died suddenly in early June and shockingly left the company to a past flame who works in the company.
M. Richard Robinson Jr., who died suddenly on June 5 during a walk in Martha's Vineyard, left the the company to Iole Lucchese, the company's strategy officer; not either of his sons, siblings or ex-wife, The Wall Street Journal reported
She also inherited all his personal possessions, according to the The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed the 2018 will that outlined the succession plan, which family members are reportedly unhappy about.
Family members and former colleagues said Robinson, 84, and Luccesse, 54, it was an open secret that they were in a longtime romantic relationship, but said they believed the couple broke up years ago.
Robison said in his 2018 will that Lucchese, who has been with the company for more than three decades, is 'my partner and closest friend.'
Scholastic Corp. publishes some of most-well known titles like 'Harry Potter,' 'Clifford,' 'Magic Schoolbus', 'Captain Underpants,' among others.
Family members told the paper that they're reviewing their legal options.
Richard 'Dick' Robinson (left) gave the $1.2billion Scholastic publishing company to longtime flame and colleague Iole Lucchese (right)
Richard Robinson, chairman, president and CEO of Scholastic, rear, holds the first signed US edition of the book 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' during its unveiling in New York, Friday, July 15,2005
Maurice Robinson, 86, founder and chairman of Scholastic Magazines Inc. (left) pictured with his son M.Richard Robinson Jr., the firm's president and chief executive officer
