Joel and his dad holding wrestling awards during his senior year of high school
David Feingold's MS diagnosis was no match for his determination to have a front row seat in the lives of his three children. He was a hero in the eyes of his son, Joel, whose childhood memories are flooded with images of his beloved dad and the support he extended through every activity and event.
"It didn't matter what kind of day he had or how badly his MS affected him, my father would always put himself second and his kids first," Joel says.
Joel recalls camping trips to Lake George in Upstate New York with his dad, where they made memories sailing together. At his Little League games, his dad was front and center in his wheelchair behind the fence, cheering Joel on at every game — despite never being able to play catch together. Later, when Joel began wrestling, his dad was at every match throughout 11 years — a level of support that helped propel Joel to a four-time national champion wrestling status.
While most dads were busy working outside the home, David was a reliable presence at home. And Joel could depend upon his dad to be there when he returned from school, to help with homework or be a sounding board. He credits David for the development of his own work ethic, as he witnessed him managing the household with the use of a specialized phone. Joel attributes his own early retirement to things he learned while witnessing his father manage the family finances from this phone.
David ultimately lost his battle with MS in 1986, while Joel was in college. Upon his passing, Joel and his sister became involved with the National MS Society — she with Walk MS, and Joel through financial support. Joel recognizes his father's incredible influence for his own success and is grateful to be able to support the National MS Society. He is confident that his legacy gift is honoring the memory of his beloved father while changing the diagnosis forever.
You can make a resounding impact by including the National MS Society in your estate plan. Learn more about Joel's choice — the Charitable Remainder Trust here. A Charitable Remainder Trust can provide an immediate tax deduction, savings on capital gains tax from appreciated assets and a steady income stream for life or a period of years. Another simple option is to include the National MS Society as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts, or in your will or trust. Contact giftplanning@nmss.org for more information.