Janice Morgan

Whenever Olga and her parents heard the attacks above them, they raced down into the basement. It was as close to a bomb shelter as they'd get. Usually, they stayed there until the fighting ceased. But on that day, the 11-year-old grew tired of waiting. She just wanted to play her piano, so she ignored her parents' order and ran upstairs.

Whenever Olga and her parents heard the attacks above them, they raced down into the basement. It was as close to a bomb shelter as they'd get. Usually, they stayed there until the fighting ceased. But on that day, the 11-year-old grew tired of waiting. She just wanted to play her piano, so she ignored her parents' order and ran upstairs.

She booked it to the instrument, but just as she hit the first few keys, a bomb hit her family's apartment. Olga was blown back by the force, and the building crumbled around her. Her hand was crushed by a block and she struggled to break free. And for a few excruciating minutes, she probably wondered if she'd die right there.

She booked it to the instrument, but just as she hit the first few keys, a bomb hit her family's apartment. Olga was blown back by the force, and the building crumbled around her. Her hand was crushed by a block and she struggled to break free. And for a few excruciating minutes, she probably wondered if she'd die right there.

Olga's parents climbed through the rubble and came to her rescue, but she didn't make it out unscathed. Her right hand was badly damaged, and she worried she'd never be able to play piano again. Throughout the ordeal, Olga had been holding back her tears, but now she let it all out. It's possible it was the first time she wanted to leave her home country, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Olga's parents climbed through the rubble and came to her rescue, but she didn't make it out unscathed. Her right hand was badly damaged, and she worried she'd never be able to play piano again. Throughout the ordeal, Olga had been holding back her tears, but now she let it all out. It's possible it was the first time she wanted to leave her home country, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

You see, life was complicated in Budapest, and her family situation didn't make it any easier. When Olga was a teenager, her parents divorced, and her father started a second family. This meant Olga and her mother had to fend for themselves. To make matters worse, an uprising broke out in Hungary in 1956. By then, Olga was 23 and ready for a fresh start.

You see, life was complicated in Budapest, and her family situation didn't make it any easier. When Olga was a teenager, her parents divorced, and her father started a second family. This meant Olga and her mother had to fend for themselves. To make matters worse, an uprising broke out in Hungary in 1956. By then, Olga was 23 and ready for a fresh start.

So she left her mother and her homeland behind. She journeyed to New York City, where a local family sponsored her. What she actually got up to in New York is unclear. But by the early 1970s, the 40-something moved to Los Angeles. There, she met and married her husband, Andre Ruderschmidt. Soon after that, the two opened up a coffee shop in Hollywood.

So she left her mother and her homeland behind. She journeyed to New York City, where a local family sponsored her. What she actually got up to in New York is unclear. But by the early 1970s, the 40-something moved to Los Angeles. There, she met and married her husband, Andre Ruderschmidt. Soon after that, the two opened up a coffee shop in Hollywood.

In a way, the small business symbolized her rise to success. From a child of war to a businesswoman, Olga was the American dream personified. Unfortunately, her life followed a similar trajectory to Helen's. Great until it wasn't. In 1978, Olga's marriage ended. The coffee shop closed down. Olga was on her own. Even worse, she was low on cash. Her solution? Lawsuits.

In a way, the small business symbolized her rise to success. From a child of war to a businesswoman, Olga was the American dream personified. Unfortunately, her life followed a similar trajectory to Helen's. Great until it wasn't. In 1978, Olga's marriage ended. The coffee shop closed down. Olga was on her own. Even worse, she was low on cash. Her solution? Lawsuits.

One time, she was at a grocery store and claimed that a stack of boxes had fallen and maimed her. She hit the store with a personal injury claim. Another time, she complained to a coffee shop manager that she'd been served subpar food. A nearby customer overheard the commotion and came to interject. Only, they didn't just use their words.

One time, she was at a grocery store and claimed that a stack of boxes had fallen and maimed her. She hit the store with a personal injury claim. Another time, she complained to a coffee shop manager that she'd been served subpar food. A nearby customer overheard the commotion and came to interject. Only, they didn't just use their words.

According to Olga, this third party shot her with a stun gun, right there in the middle of the store. It's almost too wild to believe. But Olga insisted it was all true. What's more, she claimed the attack had caused her physical injuries and emotional trauma. So she filed a negligence claim against the coffee shop.

According to Olga, this third party shot her with a stun gun, right there in the middle of the store. It's almost too wild to believe. But Olga insisted it was all true. What's more, she claimed the attack had caused her physical injuries and emotional trauma. So she filed a negligence claim against the coffee shop.

It seems like a frivolous case, but it might have worked out for Olga Ruderschmidt, because by the mid-80s, she could afford visits to the Sports Connection Athletic Club. That's where she reportedly met and became enamored with Helen Golay, and that friendship would change her life. Call it fate or destiny, but when Helen Goulet met Olga Ruderschmidt, she felt an instant kinship.

It seems like a frivolous case, but it might have worked out for Olga Ruderschmidt, because by the mid-80s, she could afford visits to the Sports Connection Athletic Club. That's where she reportedly met and became enamored with Helen Golay, and that friendship would change her life. Call it fate or destiny, but when Helen Goulet met Olga Ruderschmidt, she felt an instant kinship.

They were both beautiful health nuts, both divorced, and most importantly, they both liked the idea of easy money. It was almost inevitable that the 50-somethings would be fast friends. One of their early capers together involved a trip to the exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel. Once inside, Helen grabbed Olga's arm and took her to the bathroom.

They were both beautiful health nuts, both divorced, and most importantly, they both liked the idea of easy money. It was almost inevitable that the 50-somethings would be fast friends. One of their early capers together involved a trip to the exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel. Once inside, Helen grabbed Olga's arm and took her to the bathroom.