You know, I think its unrealistic for an 80 something year old man to think he could pay a mortgage at that age of that amount. I know he broke his neck or something, and cant work, but your eighties are a crap shoot, he could have been downed by any number of maladies...
I also think of all the years he spent sailing, golfing, eating in fine restaurants and living the hivgh life, apparently without making any smart investments, or perhaps living in a smaller, paid in full home as he got older.
I dont think he is a bad person, but he is a perfect example of living just within your means or above it, and something happens.
The true key to happiness and financial freedom is to live below your means, because you will always have more than what you need.