Of Past Members & Friends
Obituaries/Memorials/Remembrances
Of Past Members & Friends
CONECA Member, Russ LeBeau Passes
May 17, 2007 -- Michael LeBuea has informed the club that his father, CONECA member, Russ LeBeau has passed. He said: "It is with deep regret that I'm informing you of the death of my father Russell E. LeBeau. I know that he really enjoyed collecting his Lincoln cents and die varieties. Please inform everyone through your publication Errorscope. Any Correspondences can be sent to myself at lebeau_mike@hotmail.com or 95 Ironwood Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526." Russ will be sorely missed by his CONECA friends and the hobby in general!
Florence M. Schook Passes
1917-2006
American Numismatic Association Photo
Hobby leader and one-time CONECA member, Florence M. Schook passed away April 2, 2006 at the age of 88. While most folks knew Florence from her work within the ANA, in particular as the ANA's long-time coordinator of the Young Numismatists Program and as an ANA Governor, past Vice President and President, she was also a past member of CONECA. During the 1980s she held the position of CONECA Michigan State Representative. She also made sure that anytime a CONECA member needed a suite for a seminar on error-variety coins at the Michigan State Numismatic Society's conventions that it was arranged for. Florence was a recipient of the ANA's Farran Zerbe Memorial, Medal of Merit, Outstanding Adult Advisor and Club Representative awards; Numismatic News' Numismatic Ambassador Award; the Great Eastern Numismatic Association's "Woman of the Year" award; and the City of Detroit's Ambassador Award. She served as President of the Michigan State Numismatic Society in the late 1970s. She will be missed.
Remembering Dr. Berry
by Neil Osina
Picture of Dr. Berry at Errorama 1971; he took first place at many major shows around the
country
August 23, 2005 -- How many of you remember
Dr. Berry? Today, his collection of dollar errors resides in the ANA Museum in Colorado Springs,
CO. For many years he resisted buying errors, but I got him going. I opened up my store in 1964
and it was a hole in the wall, a tiny place next to an Unemployment office. He owned the building I rented from
him which was two doors away from his dental office in 1964-66. He told me I could pay the rent in coins of my own choice. I gave him the wholesale prices. My rent was only $75.00 a month! He had collected some regular older coins at first. I would continue to show him major error coins which he always played
down but within two years he went gung-ho on dollar errors -- mostly Ikes. I helped him appraise his collection before he donated the whole thing to the ANA
Museum many years ago.
The reason I told you about my neighbor, the unemployment office, is because
my first thoughts were that this would be a great location to buy coins from all those non-working souls who walked past my store. It turned out the opposite. Those guys were taking their benefits and buying up everything I
had! I had borrowed $1500.00 from my parents to open up the store and I was able to repay them within
six months of opening!
Also shown here are a few of the papers that survive
detailing some of the items he purchased. All are in his handwriting. He purchased the Ike dollar proof clip and the
1970-S proof half struck on a quarter planchet (which was originally was sealed inside the original
case) from me! The only coins I still own from that collection are the huge Cud cent
1969-S, which originally I bought in the original case, as well as the huge
strike- though now labeled as such in an ANACS slab. The design (of this later
coin) can be seen inside the incused area, so I suppose the metal that covered the now recessed area was a detached part of the planchet that fell out after being struck, but left a deep-seated design (strike) from metal flowing into the planchet from pressure of die being struck!
Pete "DaNutt" Bishal Passes Away
Pete "DaNutt" Bishal clowning around at Errorama 1987.
In top image he is acting like he is going to steal coins from a case;
Bill Erdakos in background of second image acts as a surprised
vendor catching the "thief".
Photos courtesy of Ken Potter
"DaNutt" in one of his calmer moments at the November 2001
Bay State Coin Show in Boston MA. He shows a slabbed error coin
that looks like the shank of a cap that broke away from the cap face.
Photo courtesy of Greg J. Gullotti
Pete "DaNutt" Bishal passed away on the
morning of October 12th, 2003. Pete was attending the WESPNEX coin show in New York and
died from an apparent heart attack just before leaving his hotel room to set up for the
Sunday morning show.
Anybody that knew Pete could easily verify he was “DaNutt”,
even Pete’s business card listed his company name as “DaNutts.” Pete was
always loud and boisterous, quick with the jokes, and loved a good time.
He and I spent several hours together on Saturday at the show swapping
stories and coins. We traded jabs, and even joked about his false teeth. Nothing was
off-limits to Pete, he was a happy-go-lucky man. More importantly, he was a genuinely good
man.
At the show, late afternoon Saturday, Pete slept at his table with his
head in his hand, elbow on top of his display case. The dealer next to him slept with his
head back and mouth dropped open. I joked with John Bachman that I wish I had a camera to
capture this “classic moment in coins.” Now,
more than ever, I really do wish I had a camera.
Pete was certainly original and unique. He is credited with coining the
name CONECA and was a distinguished researcher of Morgan Dollars. I for one, will always
remember Pete and rest assured, the Lord is going to be enjoying Pete’s company.
Anyone that would like to send a sympathy card. Pete’s long time
girlfriend can be reached at: Jenneta Fain, PO Box 3273, Falls River, MA 02722
-- Frank Leone
I will miss Pete, in an ocean of coin dealers he stood WAY out!
-- Greg J. Gullotti
Pete was a good friend and dedicated error researcher and dealer. We spent hours together at conventions and on the phone off and on for nearly two decades! He will be missed!
-- Ken Potter
... his knowledge of the minting process was exceptional and his antics were always good natured. He will be missed.
-- James Wiles