Burt Handelsman and Lucille “Lovey” Handelsman—aged 89 and 88 respectively—are responsible for one of South Florida’s most enduring real estate empires with valuable properties in—among other places—Delray Beach, Key West and Palm Beach, including lots of holdings on Worth Avenue.
The Handelsmans differ from most people their age not just in terms of wealth and achievement, but also for one other factor not common among couples married 67 years:
The Handelsmans are getting a divorce.
Lovey has accused Burt of carrying on an affair with 61-year-old Jane Rankin, a Fort Lauderdale attorney who works with them on business matters. Despite Lovey’s insistence, Burt would not discontinue the relationship, and became verbally abusive.
“He gets very belligerent and he starts to yell, ‘You don’t know anything. You haven’t worked a day in your life. Get out of my life,’” Lovey relayed. “I can’t handle it anymore. I said, ‘You know something, it’s time to quit.’”
