In Memoriam

Jim Payne 1926-2005

We are saddened to report that a good friend passed away on September 22, 2005. Jim Payne was perhaps the most influential and respected member of the Boeing Employees Coin Club (BECC). He served the club in many capacities over approximately a 35-year time period. In recent years he was best known as the largest dealer in BECC medals, although he also supplied many other numismatic items to the club and its members. He will be greatly missed, and his shoes will be hard to fill, as they say. The club will likely establish a memorial award in his honor.

Jim was also a recipient of the PNNA's Bob Everett Memorial Award.

Ray Mah 1935-2004

Ray was a lifelong friend of numismatics, and one who took great pleasure in sharing his love of the hobby with friends and collectors of all ages. Ray was a co-founder of the rebirth of the North Shore Numismatic Society, in North Vancouver in the mid 1970’s, as well as a former regional director of the Canadian Numismatic Association, and to the end he was always looking for new ideas to help the clubs, their members and the community we served.

His passion for the hobby was his gift to all who knew him. To first time acquaintances at a coin show or other numismatic event, Ray’s opening line was always, “How’s your collection doing?” He always had an item of interest or experience to share with friends. We are all richer for having known him.

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.” — G. Randell

Ray was also a recipient of the PNNA's Bob Everett Memorial Award.

Rob Retz 1947-2004

Rob Retz was born October 20, 1947, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Ronald and Esther Retz. He grew up in Oshkosh where he attended elementary and high school. While growing up, his hobbies included collecting stamps and coins, reading, and running track.

Rob moved to Oregon in 1972, and returned to the hobby in the 1980s. He began by collecting gold pieces, slowly shifted to colonial coins and eventually focused on the Fugio variety. He was an original member of the Willamette Coin Club, and a member of the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association (PNNA), the American Numismatic Association (ANA), Early American Coppers (EAC) and the Colonial Collectors Coin Club (C4). He served six years as President of the Willamette Coin Club, was the Bourse Chairman of six PNNA conventions, served as a past C4 Board Member and had numerous articles published by the Colonial Newsletter Foundation. He had a passion for numismatics, which resulted in a large network of friends spread throughout the country. The license plate on his car read “Fugio.”

Following a nearly two-year bout with cancer, Rob passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 17, 2004 with his wife and two daughters at his side. He is dearly missed.

Rob’s family would like to thank the Willamette Coin Club, which is in the process of establishing the Rob Retz Memorial Exhibit Award to promote numismatic education and his numerous friends who are working to get Fugio Copper Notes published by the Colonial Coin Collectors Club. Thank you for honoring his memory.

For the complete story, please see http://www.pdxcoinclub.org/OnSiteLinks/InMemoriam/robRetz.html.

In Memory of Freda Peterson by Del Cushing

On January 23, 2003 Freda Peterson, long time member of the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association, passed away at her residence in Centralia, Washington.  Freda was an active member of the Manhattan Coin Club which met in Burien.   Freda was known for her devotion to the Hospitality Room at PNNA Conventions.  Her spread of cookies and goodies was  looked forward to by both dealers and members.  Freda would begin weeks before the convention to prepare to feed the crowd which would invariably gather to chat and visit with old friends.

In 1990 Freda received the Krause Publications  Numismatic Ambassador Award for her goodwill and dedication to the hobby.  Freda’s many friends will miss her friendly smile and easy going manner at the conventions. 

John Haugh Obituary by Larry Gaye with excerpts from the Oregonian

A most excellent fellow and numismatist has moved on.  John J. Haugh, passed away from heart failure while on a trip in Rugby, England on April 1, 2002.  John was an accomplished attorney specializing in civil rights and other areas of the law affecting people and the "little guy."  He was a graduate of The University of Notre Dame Law School, President of the Multnomah Bar (1977-78), The Oregon State Bar (1987-88), Oregon Law Foundation (1985-86) and served on numerous committees of the Multnomah and Oregon State Bar associations, as well as on the Federal Judicial Selection Committee for many years.  He was a published author of numerous legal articles, books and specialized in telecommunications which led to a cover feature on FORBES magazine.

I will always remember John for his good natured smile, inclusive attitude and the excitement he projected to all in his real love of numismatics and desire to share that passion with all he met in that venue.  He was real, what you see is what you got with John.  During the 1998 ANA Convention in Portland I had the good fortune to be invited to a get together at John's house with such folks as Jules Reiver and other numismatic folk.  What did we talk about and look at?  Well, coins of course.  John loved his Early US Dollars and became an expert in the issues of 1794-1803 and wrote extensively on the subject.  I will miss him and the entire community will miss him.  John will always be with us because of his many contributions to the community as a whole.

John was an organ donor which shouldn't surprise any of us, he continues to give life even after he is gone: he directed that The Celebration of Life after his funeral "be held with fun, food, drinks and refreshment for all, quipping 'Some will come just to make sure the SOB is dead.'  He emphasized repeatedly that all be invited whether friend or foe.  And he meant it."

Remembrances  By Marge Farnam

Let the good times roll – and that they did, many years ago.  I have a lot of good memories of the members that recently passed away.

Irene Alexander – a real stalwart in the early days of PNNA.  She served as president, secretary, board member and all around worker.  She was several times general chairman of the annual convention in Spokane.  She was an avid exhibitor and so loved her porcelain medals.   She was a judge at the ANA and also the PNNA.  She and her husband Bob were very proud of their various varieties of iris that they grew.    She recently celebrated her 85th birthday.  In her later years, had a terrible time getting around, but still loved to attend the conventions.

Pat Young – he was a profound exhibitor and would spend many nights  before the shows, until wee hours of  morning putting his displays together.  He put in a lot time making awards for various  shows, be it Boeing, University or the PNNA.  He was exhibit chairman for many shows, and also an officer in many clubs.  He went through many health problems that  really slowed him down quite a bit.  Our thoughts are with his wife Helen and his family.

Juanita McKeown – itty-bitty Juanita and I went to many ANA and PNNA conventions and although she was thirty years older than me, that never slowed her down.  She was a member of Bellingham, Fraser Valley, Vancouver BC, ANA, PNNA, and I've probably forgotten others.  All three were past officers and life members of PNNA.  Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all their relatives and friends.  Juanita was 93.

Juanita's granddaughter, Amanda Reid, thanks us for remembering Juanita, and says that "she is still very much with us in spirit," and expresses hopes that "all of her friends are happy and well."