A Family's Story
How the Rossmoor Fund Broke a 30-Year Promise
The documented account of how a Walnut Creek charity went back on decades of family commitments to the Strand family after Laurel Strand's passing from ALS.
What Happened
For over 30 years, Laurel Strand was family. Not just in words — in holidays shared, in marathons run together, in grandchildren she claimed as her own. When Erik Strand's father and Laurel separated, she remained part of the family. She set up a trust so that the assets Erik's father had given her would return to his family.
Then Laurel was diagnosed with ALS. The disease changed everything. In her final days — suffering, isolated, and preparing to end her own life — changes were made. The Rossmoor Fund, a 501(c)(3) charity in Walnut Creek's Rossmoor community (EIN: 27-0479896), became involved. Promises made over three decades were undone.
Erik hired an attorney. The estimated cost to fight: over $200,000. Money the family didn't have. And so a charity — one that rates just 2 out of 4 stars on Charity Navigator — walked away with what a family was counting on.
"I think of you often, you are my only family."
— Laurel Strand, email to Erik, February 14, 2020
This website presents the documented facts. The emails, the text messages, the records that show what this family meant to Laurel — and what was taken from them.
Who Was Laurel Strand
Laurel Strand was a world-class marathon runner. Together with Erik's father, she ran 96 marathons and ultramarathons — the Great Wall of China, Russia, Greece, Boston, New York. Erik ran seven marathons alongside them, handling logistics to make sure they had water, food, fresh socks, and warm clothing.
When Erik's father and Laurel separated, his father was doing well — owning 67 Bedazzled Fashion jewelry stores. He gave Laurel the house, artwork, and investments. Since Laurel never had children, she put these assets into a trust so that Erik and his family would inherit what his father had given her.
Laurel became a successful real estate professional in the Rossmoor community. But through it all, the Strand family remained her family. She attended their holidays, celebrated their milestones, and publicly introduced Erik's son Karl as her grandson.
"I always feel so proud introducing him as my grandson!"
— Laurel Strand, email about Karl, March 22, 2023
30+Years as Family
96Marathons Together
90+Documented Communications
In Her Own Words
The following are direct quotes from Laurel Strand's own emails and text messages to the Strand family, spanning years of documented communication.
Family Identity
"I think of you often, you are my only family."
Email from Laurel to Erik — February 14, 2020
Claiming Karl as Grandson
"I always feel so proud introducing him as my grandson!"
Email from Laurel about Karl — March 22, 2023
Estate Planning for Erik
"I am now preparing my financials as best as possible for the transition to you — i.e. I am meeting next Tuesday with a local estate lawyer to update will and trust."
Email from Laurel to Erik — March 22, 2023
Love for the Family
"I love Geo and he is a wonderful family member forever."
Email from Laurel to Erik — February 14, 2020
Mentorship & Family Duty
"I feel I could not do enough for your family so if Karl would like to meet with me, I would feel privileged that he considered me part of his personal interview process."
Email from Laurel — February 2, 2022
Family as Her Safety Net
"I always wondered in the back of my mind what I would do later on in life if I was incapacitated, and all of you are gone... so I don't need to worry about that anymore and in some ways it's really a big relief."
Text message from Laurel — December 3, 2022
Timeline of Events
A factual chronology of the relationship, the promises, and the betrayal.
1990s
Family Bond Established
Laurel and Erik's father are together. Laurel becomes an integral part of the Strand family, running marathons together across the world, sharing holidays, and building deep family ties.
After Separation
Trust Created for Strand Family
When Erik's father and Laurel separate, he gives her the house, artwork, and investments. Since Laurel has no children, she creates a trust directing these assets to Erik and his family — returning what his father gave her.
February 2020
"You Are My Only Family"
Laurel writes to Erik declaring him her only family, expressing love for Gio and other family members. The family bond remains strong after decades.
February 2022
Professional Mentorship Offered
Laurel offers to mentor Karl in real estate, expressing that she could not do enough for the family. She treats helping Karl as a family privilege.
December 2022
Laurel Expresses Relief
In text messages, Laurel expresses relief that Erik's family will be there for her in later life, calling them her safety net.
March 2023
Estate Transition Planned
Laurel tells Erik she is preparing her financials for transition to him and meeting with an estate lawyer to update her will and trust. She proudly calls Karl her grandson.
2023
ALS Diagnosis & Karl Relocates
Laurel is diagnosed with ALS. She asks Karl to take over her real estate business. Karl resigns from his San Francisco job, breaks his lease early, moves home, and gets his real estate license to work alongside Laurel.
Mid-2023
Disease Progresses, Laurel Withdraws
As ALS advances, Laurel pulls back from the family. After a serious fall requiring ICU admission and recovery care, the family notices profound changes. Laurel wants to be remembered as the vibrant person she was.
Late 2023
Promises Broken
Changes are made to Laurel's trust and estate plans. The decades of promises and documented intentions are undone. The Rossmoor Fund benefits instead of the family Laurel called her own for 30+ years. Karl receives no compensation for his expenses or the career he gave up.
2024
Legal Fight Too Costly
Erik consults an attorney. The cost to contest: over $200,000. With $20,488 in his IRA and $2,072/month from Social Security, the fight is impossible. A family that spent decades in service — to each other, to their community, to 25+ foster children — cannot afford justice.
The Real Impact
What This Cost the Strand Family
Erik lost his tech-support business during the pandemic. Most of his customers either closed or went remote. He applied to over 500 jobs over three years — but no one wants to hire a 60-something with no college degree.
The family was counting on Laurel's trust to pay off their sons' student loans and to fund retirement. Two of their three boys are still in college, with one pursuing mechanical engineering at San Jose State.
Karl — the grandson Laurel proudly introduced to the world — resigned from his job, broke his lease, and moved home at Laurel's request. He was never reimbursed for any of his expenses: food, flowers, bridge tolls, the broken lease penalty. The real estate business was never passed on to him.
Erik has $20,488 in his IRA. His Social Security pays $2,072 per month.
Who Is Erik Strand
This is not a story about someone looking for a handout. Erik Strand has spent his life in service to others.
After his grandfather was killed by a drunk driver crossing the street, and after his fiancée was killed by a drunk driver in 1982, Erik signed up with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department. For 25 years, he served as a volunteer police officer — performing all the duties and responsibilities of a full officer, receiving no pay. He saved lives. He listened to people who needed someone to care. He helped find lost pets.
Erik and his wife took in and cared for over 25 children over the years. He founded the Care Givers Cooperative, helping low-income disabled community members stay in their own homes. For six years, he and his wife organized 120 parent volunteers for their elementary school lunch program — reducing expenses by over 10% and increasing revenue by $20,000, with extra food going to the homeless.
His sons reflect their parents' values. Karl was player of the year and team captain of his rugby club. Campbell was elected swim team captain as a junior — a rare honor — and received the Moran Memorial Award for embodying "the dedication, spirit, and selfless team commitment."
The Question for the Rossmoor Community
The Rossmoor Fund is a 501(c)(3) charity (EIN: 27-0479896) that describes its mission as assisting Rossmoor residents in need. It holds a 2-out-of-4 star rating on Charity Navigator.
The question is simple: Do you honor a woman's clearly documented wishes made over 30+ years of sound mind and loving family relationships? Or do you honor changes made in the final days of a terminal illness — when she was suffering from ALS, had fallen and been admitted to the ICU, and was days away from taking her own life?
Laurel loved her family. She said so herself, in writing, dozens of times. The evidence is here. The emails are real. The text messages are real. The 30 years of holidays, marathons, and shared life were real.
"Do you want to honor Laurel in the last days of her life being horribly ill and just days away from taking her own life — or do you wish to honor the memories and the desires of a family member over 30+ years?"
— Erik Strand, letter to Rossmoor Fund Board
The Strand family doesn't have $200,000 for attorneys. They have this: the truth, documented in Laurel's own words.