Sad Story at Work

[spain]

This guy at the Memphis office at my company decided to blow his brains out on Friday night. He was a very nice guy. Very calm sort of guy but wound pretty tight. I am in Memphis at least 1 day a week and I would frequently eat lunch with him. I have no idea why he killed himself. He prayed before his meals at lunch but we never discussed religion. That whole office is stunned to say the least. He has 3 kids ages 5, 3, and 1 and his wife is pregnant. I dont know what happened but it was a shock to say the least. Suicide is such a devastating way to die. And in this case, it is doubley troubling with the kids he leaves behind...

[Dutch Oven]

Really, really sad deal. I had a similar situation up here not too long ago with a contractor I represent. Hard to understand how people can do that, IMO.

[spain]

Really, really sad deal. I had a similar situation up here not too long ago with a contractor I represent. Hard to understand how people can do that, IMO.

 

It seems so utterly selfish what with the kids. But he may have been very very depressed and unable to work out of it. I just dont know why he did this. The funeral was very very sad.

[H8tank]

dun.. dun.. dun...

[wiegie]

[Hugh 0ne]

Terrible for the wife and children, incredibly selfish on his part, even not knowing any details, and with all due respect for the deceased.

Edited July 6, 2006 by Hugh 0ne

[Savage Beatings]

I wonder if he was one of those guys who thinks his life insurance will be better for his family than his presence? Of course that's never the truth... but I think sometimes people believe it.

 

Poor kids.

[spain]

I wonder if he was one of those guys who thinks his life insurance will be better for his family than his presence? Of course that's never the truth... but I think sometimes people believe it.

 

Poor kids.

 

He didnt have much life insurance...

[biggamer3]

I didnt know Ken Lay worked in your office

[Hat Trick]

Does one get the life insurance if one comitts suicide?

[tonorator]

 

for the kids.

[Ziachild007]

Does one get the life insurance if one comitts suicide?

 

 

Thats what I was thinking. I am not 100% sure on this, but I dont think life insurance is awarded in the case of a suicide.

 

Anyhow, very sad for his family and especially the children.

[wiegie]

Does one get the life insurance if one comitts suicide?

 

I guess it depends upon the policy. I am pretty sure that my policy would pay out if I had had the insurance coverage for at least two years.

[Hat Trick]

I guess it depends upon the policy. I am pretty sure that my policy would pay out if I had had the insurance coverage for at least two years.

 

 

 

Hmm, I had always heard/assumed that a self inflicted injury (suicide) was not a death benefit or payout on insurance. That was just another reason why I thought it was extremely selfish.

 

PS. Story for sure. He really might have screwed up his family more than he thought he was helping, if he even thought that.

[Rebellab]

I guess it depends upon the policy. I am pretty sure that my policy would pay out if I had had the insurance coverage for at least two years.

 

 

This is usually the case. If the policy was two years old, it should pay. Most don't have a suicide exemption.

 

And yes suicide is the most selfish act anyone can committ. I hope the children's mother is strong. They are going to need someone strong for the future.

[The Holy Roller]

I wonder if he was one of those guys who thinks his life insurance will be better for his family than his presence? Of course that's never the truth... but I think sometimes people believe it.

 

Poor kids.

 

 

I've often heard that no dad is better than a bad/abusive dad. This doesn't sound like the case here. What a sad situation. I hope he was decent enough to have left a large insurance policy.

[Coffeeman]

Hmm, I had always heard/assumed that a self inflicted injury (suicide) was not a death benefit or payout on insurance. That was just another reason why I thought it was extremely selfish.

 

PS. Story for sure. He really might have screwed up his family more than he thought he was helping, if he even thought that.

 

 

1) Actually commiting suicide is often the result of a fundamental change in the chemicals in the brain - I know 2 people that totally changed personality over the course of a few months, and ended up there. As such, IMHO it should be treated as a disease, not an emotional choice. Even though it may've started out as an emotional thing - kinda like alcoholics.

 

2) That being said, suicide is most often excluded as a paid benefit. Unless a new type of policy has begun to be sold out there that I'm unaware of. Maybe...

[cliaz]

This guy at the Memphis office at my company decided to blow his brains out on Friday night. He was a very nice guy. Very calm sort of guy but wound pretty tight. I am in Memphis at least 1 day a week and I would frequently eat lunch with him. I have no idea why he killed himself. He prayed before his meals at lunch but we never discussed religion. That whole office is stunned to say the least. He has 3 kids ages 5, 3, and 1 and his wife is pregnant. I dont know what happened but it was a shock to say the least. Suicide is such a devastating way to die. And in this case, it is doubley troubling with the kids he leaves behind...

 

 

 

Depression is a nasty little monster that affects people so differently. No one knows the whys when people do this without leaving some note. It’s sad. My best friend Craig who was a happy go lucky guy decided one day in 1994 to take his fathers .38 and put one in his head. No one knows why. He never, ever showed any signs of depression.

 

I feel for those kids and his family. I think you should suggest to your boss to get grief counselors for your office.

[H8tank]

For some reason I seem to find trouble, and when I asked about my last policy, they said I could die by any means out there and be covered, as long as it was not suicide.

[wiegie]

2) That being said, suicide is most often excluded as a paid benefit. Unless a new type of policy has begun to be sold out there that I'm unaware of. Maybe...

 

I just checked my policy and if I commit suicide within 2 years of the policy issue date then the company will only return the premiums I paid into the policy up until that point. It says nothing about not paying out after that initial two years.

 

 

EDIT to add: I just did some checking on the internet and it appears that this provision (paying out of life insurance for suicides if the policy is more than 2 years old) is a common practice.

Edited July 6, 2006 by wiegie

[Ramhock]

My wife knows that she is only my mistress & that oxygen is my true love.

[rocknrobn26]

A shame... a major shame. Selfish? Maybe, but suicide is irrational. Somehow I have always felt that the person commiting suicide DOES think of what he's leaving behind, but does it anyway. A cognitive thinker would not opt for suicide, at least in a case like this. I can't really put blame on him, but I do feel for his family. Needless to say it is a complex act.

 

My sympathy and empathy are w/ his surviving family.

[Squeegiebo]

He has 3 kids ages 5, 3, and 1 and his wife is pregnant.

 

 

Wow. That is awful.

[AtomicCEO]

Terrible for the wife and children, incredibly selfish on his part, even not knowing any details, and with all due respect for the deceased.

 

 

I feel the same way.

 

I always find myself getting a little pissed off when I hear about a situation like this... I think about the family and the hardships ahead of them. I hope the mom finds a great guy and remarries so the kids can try to have a normal upbringing without having to say, "My dad killed himself" everytime they find themselves in a situation that a father would normally handle.

[whoopazz]

My sister committed suicide about ten years ago. No spouse and no kids thank god, but it was really bad for my mother. The insurance company did honor the life insurance, probably out of sympathy. Not sure why, but I think the company can apply some pressure if they want to.