Estate Was Fiddled, Say Stern Heirs

December 6, 2004
By Jane H. Furse
Daily News

Isaac Stern left a legacy of legendary violin performances and an estate worth million- or so his heirs thought.

Now the great virtuoso' s three children are accusing William Moorhead, executor of Stern's will, or paying himself exorbitant fees, transferring assets to their stepmother, Linda Reynolds Stern, and hawking valuable items without telling them.

According to Newsweek, the tipoff came when one of Stern's sons found out about an auction Web site where several of his father's rare instruments and other memorabilia were for sale.

Michael Stern, music director of the Kansas City Symphony; his brother, David, a Paris-based conductor, and their sister, Rabbi Shira Stern, have filed a $2.25 million lawsuit against Moorhead, claiming his friendship with Linda Stern led him to misuse his role as executor.

In an interview with the Daily News, Rabbi Stern said the relationship between Moorhead and Linda Reynolds Stern came at the expense of his children, his creditors- and her father’s musical legacy.

“We are not contesting the will at all, but that he [Moorhead] took advantage of the fact that he was friends with Linda,” she said.

According to Mark Schwartz, the attorney for the Stern heirs, that “advantage” included the $310,000 Moorhead charged the estate for his services as executor, and the $280,000 he billed to cover an office and staff.

Moorhead could not be reached for comment.

Rabbi Stern and her brothers also are outraged at Moorhead’s decision to sell off important memorabilia – included signed photos, paintings, violin bows, rare letters and Judaica – without consulting them.

“It’s a really sad chapter and we want to close it so that all that remains of our father’s legacy is all the good he put into the world,” she said.