Down the coast with Dana Parsons
The children of John Crean, the Newport Beach RV tycoon who died last year, are in court fighting over whether their mother needs a conservator and who it should be.
The back-and-forth in the court filings in Orange County Probate Court range from the petty to the more bitingly personal. One of the disputes is whether John Crean’s gold-and-diamond belt buckle should have been melted down and the gems divided among the children so replicas could be made for them. Johnnie Crean says his mother wanted him to keep the belt and, because of its sentimental value, didn’t want it destroyed. He wanted to write checks to his siblings to make replicas.
From afar, it’s kind of funny because we all understand what family disputes can become. Likewise, we all know that words on papers — even court filings — can’t fully explain family dynamics.
But here’s something we can’t relate to: Johnnie Crean notes that separate trusts were established several months ago for the four children — and staked with $18 million each.
Which just goes to prove what the Beatles sang, money can’t buy you love.
