He worked as a janitor. He didn’t have a car or TV. He had millions in his account, which he left to his neighbors

Geoffrey Holt, 82, worked as an estate caretaker and driving instructor. He also did odd jobs for his neighbors. He did not drive a car, preferring a bicycle and a lawn mower. Residents most often saw him while traveling to the grocery store, reading the newspaper or watching cars go by. Each time he wore old, threadbare ones. He had no children, and his partner died in 2017. He lived alone and modestly.

He was a millionaire. After his death, his money went to the city

Geoffrey lived in a house that looked like a caravan. There was little furniture inside, no TV or computer. “He seemed to have what he wanted, but he didn’t want much,” said Holt’s friend and former employer, Holt’s friend and former employer, in Edwin Smith. The man died in June. Three months later, it was revealed that he had a huge amount of cash, which after his death he ordered to be allocated to the development of Hinsdale and distributed to the residents. He wrote down, among others: $3.8 million for the city to provide community services in the areas of education, health, recreation and culture. “Hinsdale will use the leftover money very sparingly, as Mr. Holt did,” said Kathryn Lynch, city administrator. Only his friend Edwin knew about Holt’s fortune. “I was a little stunned when I found out everything worked out for the city,” he said.

He lived modestly since childhood. He didn’t spend money on his own whims

The 82-year-old’s neighbors began to wonder how the money he left behind could be used. They came up with the idea of ​​modernizing the clock in the town hall, renovating the buildings, and buying a new vote counting machine. – I know he didn’t have a large family, but still leaving it to the city where he lived… It’s a huge gift – admitted Steve Dorio, chairman of the local city council. After Geoffrey’s death, his sister spoke out. It turned out that the siblings lived modestly from an early age. Their parents ran a vegetable garden and they got clothes from their friends. Holt didn’t like attention, rarely talked about money, and didn’t want to move. – He always told me that his main goal in life was to make sure no one noticed anything. I’m just very sad that he didn’t allow himself a little pleasure, added Alison Holt.