After scholastic ceo's sudden death, family left blindsided when left out of will: 'shocking'

The family of late Scholastic Inc. CEO M. Richard "Dick" Robinson Jr. was reportedly left "shocked" by his will and succession plan for the major book publishing company.

Robinson died unexpectedly on June 5 at age 84. His father had founded the company — now known for hot commodities in the book world like _Harry Potter_, _The Hunger Games_ and _Captain

Underpants_ — and Robinson spent 46 years as CEO and chairman, working "full time until the moment of his death," as his obituary states. He has two sons, John Benham

"Ben" Robinson, 34, and Maurice "Reece" Robinson, 25, with ex-wife Helen Benham, whom he recently became close to again before his death. In the wake of Robinson's

sudden death, the family —including his siblings — was reportedly surprised to find that his will left his personal possessions and control of the $1.2 billion company to chief strategy

officer Iole Lucchese, according to the _Wall Street Journal_. FOR MORE ON THE SUCCESSION FOR SCHOLASTIC FOLLOWING M. RICHARD ROBINSON JR.'S DEATH AND OTHER TOP STORIES, LISTEN BELOW TO

OUR DAILY PODCAST PEOPLE EVERY DAY. The outlet reports that the will was drafted in 2018 and that he and Lucchese, 54, were believed to have been romantically involved. PEOPLE has reached

out to Scholastic for comment. Benham told WSJ that the revelations of the will "served as salt in an open wound," while Reece agreed it was "unexpected and shocking" and

added, "You might think from the will that he didn't see his sons. That's not true. For the last two years, I saw him multiple times a week." _WANT TO GET THE BIGGEST

STORIES FROM_ PEOPLE _EVERY WEEKDAY? __SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEW PODCAST__,_ PEOPLE EVERY DAY, _TO GET THE ESSENTIAL CELEBRITY, ENTERTAINMENT AND HUMAN INTEREST NEWS STORIES MONDAY THROUGH

FRIDAY._ Benham and Robinson divorced in 2003, according to _WSJ_, and she had worked for Scholastic for more than 30 years, even sitting on the board at one point in time. She told the

outlet, "I lived and breathed Scholastic while also raising our two children. Dick told me on more than one occasion, 'You care more about Scholastic than I do.' "

"I was shocked and we were not expecting this," Benham added of the will's outcome. According to Lucchese's bio, she is now chair of the board, executive vice president,

chief strategy officer and president of Scholastic Entertainment. Born in Toronto, she has been with the company for 30 years and has "consistently led innovative efforts to deepen

connections with and better support teachers, families, young readers, and other consumers, while expanding access to Scholastic content around the world." One former Scholastic

employee told _WSJ_ of Lucchese, "Iole has a point of view and she shares it. I admire the fact that women leadership spoke freely and candidly and it seemed to me, in the opportunities

I had to be a part of those meetings, that was encouraged."