Three years ago, Lillian set up a first and then second charitable remainder trust. “I wanted to spread a little help to other people and am glad to have found a good way to do it,” she says. The trusts have helped her to accomplish several objectives. Lillian receives an income that her two sons, one a Harvard physician, and the other a retired hospital administrator, will later share. She saves money on her income taxes and supports HMS and other organizations whose work she values. In the second trust, her sons will select the various charitable organizations they wish to support. As a family, Lillian and her sons decided to decided to contribute to the Resident As Teacher Program at Harvard Medical School. There, medical residents are trained to become skilled and caring physicians, as well as excellent teachers. Lillian’s particular gift will be directed to teaching in regard to palliative, also known as end of life, care. “I believe that doctors are most effective when they can relate well to their patients,” she explains.

Lillian’s gifts will also support organizations that work with inner city children, the elderly, and that provide care for women and children’s health in underdeveloped nations. When asked what accounts for her longevity she replies, “my stubborn nature. I am determined to be well, to keep busy and keep moving. I don’t look backward to disappointments in the past, I look ahead to the future.”

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