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Stephanie Madoff MackWidow of Mark Madoff
Country:
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Content:
Biography of Stephanie Madoff Mack
Stephanie Madoff Mack is the widow of Mark Madoffthe mother of their two childrenand the daughter-in-law of Bernard Madoff. Bernard Madoffwho built possibly the largest financial pyramid in historyis considered the biggest fraudster of the 21st century and was sentenced to 150 years in prison by a New York court in 2008. Stephanie and Mark got married in 2004. She worked at the glossy magazine 'George' and for American designer Narciso Rodriguez before becoming a pediatrician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York in 2007 while also pursuing a master's degree. Stephanie currently resides in New York with her children.
Marriage and Scandal
Stephanie and Mark had been married for four years when Mark's fatherBernard Madoffwas arrested in 2008 on securities fraud charges. The damage caused by his fraudulent scheme was estimated at $64 billion. At the timetheir oldest daughter Audrey was two years oldand Stephanie was pregnant with their son Nicholas. Mark Madoff testified in his father's case as a witness. Upon learning that his father's supposedly successful asset management company was a massive fraudMark and his brother Andrew severed all ties with their parents. Mark and Stephanie tried to start a new life for the sake of their young childrenbut Mark couldn't overcome the shame and disgrace he felt. Additionallyin October 2009he and other family members were sued for $200 million. Mark hung himself on the second anniversary of his father's arrest while Stephanie was away.
The End of Normal
In the past two yearsStephanie has been raising her children alone. She wrote the book 'The End of Normal: A Wife's AnguishA Widow's New Life' in 2011 as a memoir for her children to explain their father's true character and defend his innocence. In the candid memoirshe recounts their idyllic wedding in Nantucket and how she genuinely enjoyed being part of the Madoff family. She shares the shock they experienced upon Bernard's confessionwhich she believes caused the death of her husbandand the media frenzy that followed her father-in-law's arrestwhich equally shocked and outraged the entire family. 'The End of Normal' is a story of losing a fairytale that turned out to be a lieof life with a husband she barely recognized due to his father's actionsand the tragic loss of a loved one. Stephanie writes that Mark emotionally broke down on the first day. He aged and witheredunsure if his life was even real.
A Tragic Loss
In November 2010their daughter Audrey turned four. Stephanie's parents gifted her a trip to Disney World for Audreyher motherand grandmother. Audrey was thrilled about the tripand Stephanie felt guilty about leaving Mark alone with their sonbut he reassured her. On December 10when they leftan article about Bernard Madoff's scheme was published in the 'Wall Street Journal,' which worried Stephanie as Mark seemed devastated. They exchanged messages until she went to sleep and turned off her phonebut Mark could still call her through the hotel switchboard. At 4:14 am on Saturday morningDecember 112010Mark sent her three emails. Stephanie discovered them when she woke up and turned on her phone at 6:45. In the first email titled 'Help,' he wrote"Please send someone to take care of Nick." In the next emailthree seconds laterhe wrote"I love you."
Stephaniepanickingtold her mother that she received strange emails from Mark as she dialed his number. There was no answer. Her stepfather found Mark's body hanging from a steel beam that crossed the living room ceiling. He had fashioned a noose from their dog's leash. An abandoned vacuum cleaner cord lay on the tableindicating he made two attempts. Little Nick was sleeping just a few steps away. Later that nightStephanie smashed all the porcelain vases and precious trinkets in the housescattering useless treasures across the lawn. She fell asleep with her arms around Mark's favorite flannel shirtwhich still carried his scent. Since thenshe has often wondered what would have happened if she hadn't gone to Disney World.
Every Fridayshe takes Audrey to a child mental health specialist. The specialist's first advice was to keep Mark present in their lives to help Audrey and Nick. What broke Stephanie's heart healed her children. Pictures of their father sit on their nightstandand sometimes she finds her sleeping children holding them tightly in their little hands.
