Stephanie Madoff Mack: "I Feel Sorry For Ruth"

In the early hours of December 11 2010, Bernie Madoff's eldest son decided he'd had enough. He fashioned a noose from a black dog leash and hanged himself from a ceiling beam in his $6 million New York apartment. A tragic end for a man who had once had it all; a devoted wife, young children and wealth beyond imagination. Mark was a highly respected Wall Street trader paying for the sins of his father. Bernard L. Madoff Investement Securites LLC bilked an estimated $60 Billion out of investors. It was the biggest fraud in history. So much so that some claim the name of the scheme will no longer be known as a 'Ponzi', but rather a 'Madoff'. Charles Ponzi, the original New York scammer, was small fry compared to "Uncle Bernie", as his fellow prison cons now call him. His widow has put pen to paper to set the record straight. The vast majority of us in the industry have always known that Mark was entirely innocent, but the media would not stop with their false accusations and innuendo. Unlike Stephanie, I don't just blame Bernie for Mark's tragic death, but also the relentless media pressure he was subjected to. If Mark had a flaw it was to be born the eldest son of Bernard L. Madoff. I met the Mark, he was a warm and honourable person. I still remember tears streaming down my face when I saw the news flash up that he had committed suicide. I asked Stephanie Madoff-Mack for a little additional insight on The End Of Normal and Mark's condition prior to that ill-fated morning. You can see my questions and her responses below: DP: Mark was highly respected on Wall Street. He ran the legitimate side of the firm. When the collapse occurred did he change “overnight”, or was his mental state of decline more slow and protracted? Did he resort to alcohol or drugs such as antidepressants? SMM: Mark's physical appearance changed overnight. He had been shocked to the core upon hearing the news of his father's horrendous crimes. He became hunched over, and I often saw an anger and fury in his eyes that had never been there before. Mark's persona mentally and emotionally deteriorated over time. He was devastated when his highly respected Wall Street reputation fell into the gutter because of a massive crime he did not commit. Mark felt terrible for the destruction his father had brought to so many thousands of families, including his own. Feeling abandoned by his mother, Ruth, played a huge part in Mark's emotional downward spiral. After his first suicide attempt, Mark was prescribed anti-depressants as well as anti-anxiety pills. However, under the care of a therapist and a pschyopharmacologist Mark was able to stop taking the medications after being on them for nearly a year. Mark was in a much better place during the summer and fall of 2010. He was determined to move forward in his life and not allow his father to cause more destruction to him or his family. In the evening, Mark might nurse one scotch on the rocks, but that was the extent of his alcohol intake. DP: You speak very kindly about Ruth Madoff. Your dignity is astonishing. Do you hate her, or just fail to understand the decisions she made? SMM: I do not hate Ruth Madoff the way I hate Bernie Madoff. Although I feel as if she did very wrong by my husband, I can't help but feel sorry for Ruth Madoff. She is a woman who has made disastrous, irreparable decisions and she has lost a lot. DP: Do you believe that you will ever allow her to develop a relationship with your children going forward? SMM: This is a difficult question for me. I simply do not know. My feelings about Ruth Madoff run very hot and cold. If my children one day express interest in their father's mother then perhaps for them I will consider developing a relationship with her. I guess time will tell. DP: Do you receive any abuse from members of the public? Hate mail, telephone calls, or on the street? SMM: Shortly after Bernie confessed his crimes, Mark, our children and I did receive death threats and were occasionally harassed on the street by reporters. However, since the publication of my book I have received letters from women all over the country sharing their stories of loss, from suicide of a loved one to loss of a spouse through disease to loss from divorce and more. The letters are incredibly supportive of me, and of Audrey and Nicholas. Many of them thank me for telling my story because they can relate to many of the feelings I express in the End of Normal?. Furthermore, every single letter makes mention of what an incredible husband, father and friend Mark Madoff must have been and that he would be proud of me for telling the truth about our story. DP: How do you see you life going forward? You clearly love and adore your children and I admire your strength as a mother, but that aside, what about you? Are you happy? SMM: Well, starting in January I will be working again towards getting my degree as a Child Life Specialist. I am starting to have some ‘happy' days. Certainly the success and positive feedback from The End of Normal has contributed to that happiness simply because it just feels good to finally be able to tell our story. But I do find myself having some very weepy days. I miss Mark terribly, and I feel it is such a shame that he is not here to share this with me and to experience the sense of vindication that this book has finally given him. DP: Thank you, Stephanie. You have our deepest sympathies and we admire your courage and strength. We wish you the very best for the future.