Most of us can recognize a solitary soul when we see one. You know the ones; those people that you never really find out much about, who keep to themselves and don’t boast many friends.

Although Alan Naiman was a social worker – a job that involves meeting lots of different people – outside of work he preferred his own company and never married or had children.

The few people who did know him were nevertheless still unaware of the big secret he managed to keep hidden for decades.

The few people who did know Alan noticed he was very conservative with his money, choosing to mend his shoes with duct tape, rather than buy new ones, always looking for the best deals at grocery stores and dining out at fast food restaurants in place of costlier alternatives.

It wasn’t until after Alan’s death that everyone understood why he had lived such a frugal life.

Most of the organizations he left money to had no personal relationship with Alan including the Pediatric Interim Care Center.

Alan had called the organization once a few years earlier because he needed help placing a child but those in charge had never met him personally.

He also left money to the Treehouse foster care organization.

A Washington state social worker died of cancer at age 63, left most of his $11 million estate to children’s charities that help the poor, sick, disabled and abandoned. https://on.wfmy.com/2EQQ9JG