Lee Miles, the President of Bridgeport University, had invited several dozen people to his home on campus for dinner. I was included because I had lectured at the college several times.
Due to heavy traffic from Westport to Bridgeport I was a half-hour late, as was an elderly lady in her 80’s, Clara Mertens. She and I were ushered to a table for two and proceeded to have a lively conversation.
I learned that Clara, a widow, had financed several buildings at the college, thanks to a few million dollars from her late husband’s real estate investments. I suddenly realized Merten’s Auditorium was the venue where I had lectured.
Clara said she was going to Europe for the summer and would return to her estate in Easton around September. She also had an apartment in New York City where she stayed when seeing a Broadway show. But she wanted to know if I had a major project she could finance.
Of course I had a dream to someday establish a museum for unknown creative people who failed to gain proper recognition for their talent. I would be the curator for one year and then depart for oher activities. My museum could be funded for one million dollars.
After our dinner we mingled with the other guests, I said goodby to Clara Mertens, she told me to call her in three months and we would arrange to meet with her attorney to draw up the agreement for my one million dollars to finance the museum.
I could hardly believe this chance encounter that would certainly change my life. Clara had written both of her unlisted phone numbers on my business card and a note to “call before the end of September.” My bucket list of creative people I knew who could profit from a grant began to take shape.
That summer flew by, I had signed to begin a series of lectures in October and was working on my material. Suddenly I realized it was October 1st and I hadn’t called Clara in September. I made the call. Both her phone numbers were disconnected.
My heart skipped a beat. Perhaps she had died. I called the President’s office at Bridgeport University. Yes, Clara had passed away on September 28. Then a call to her attorney. He said he knew about her plan to finance my museum, and had been waiting for me to contact her. I waited too long and she was gone.
Clara Mertens left 16 million dollars to the University of Bridgeport with no strings attached. She had outlived all family member at 89 and so there were no challenges to her will.
But I failed to call her in September and lost my benefactor. Boo hoo.
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