The E-Sylum:  Volume 3, Number 44, October 22, 2000, Article 2

JOHN BERGMAN 

   Ken Barr writes: "According to Jim Bergman, John's service / 
   funeral will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, October 23 at 
   Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress, 
   CA 90630, 714-828-3131." 

   Charlie Davis writes: "I was so sorry to hear of John Bergman's 
   death. I had known him for almost 20 years as a friend and 
   colleague, confidant and sounding board.  When I first went into 
   business putting out fixed price lists, John would always call and 
   tell me what I had grossly unvalued.  He never picked the items 
   off but always found a polite way to tell me I screwed up. 

   Whenever  I went to Long Beach, John insisted that I stay at his 
   house and I was never allowed to stay in a hotel.  Each night we 
   would come back from the show and be up most of the night 
   talking books. Whenever NBS had a contested election, John 
   was the one asked to receive and count the ballots. Whenever 
   you bid in his auction, you knew the lot was properly described 
   and that your bid would be reduced. 

   Honest almost to a fault, and knowledgeable to the nth degree 
   - this is how I  will remember John.  He will be sorely missed" 

   Allan Davisson writes: "I am saddened to hear of John Bergman's 
   untimely death. We did not have a great deal of contact over the 
   years but every time I did deal with him I was impressed by his 
   knowledge and decency. 

   This is a year of loss for numismatics as relatively young--men in 
   their 50's--are passing away. Patrick Finn is gravely ill and in 
   hospice care. Bill Warden passed away earlier this year. 
   The passing of all three of these expert and generous people 
   leaves a void in our numismatic community." 

   David Sklow writes: "Sherry and I were deeply saddened by 
   the news of John Bergman's passing.  I have known John for 
   more than twenty years, and considered him a good friend. 
   He was always the calm cool and collected one!  The last time 
   I saw John was when he attended the auction of another follow 
   bibliophile who left us before his time, the Ken Lowe sale last 
   November in Dearborn. There is definitely truth in the saying, 
   "the good die young."   I know I speak for all of the numismatic 
   brotherhood, when I say John will be missed!!  If there was one 
   thing I learned from John Bergman, it was if you are going to sell 
   Numismatic Literature, do it right and pack it right!!  You never 
   wanted him to find a book touching the inside edges of a carton! 
   We have lost four giants of Numismatic Literature in the last few 
   years, I only wonder what great stories, Bergman, Champa, 
   Collins and Lowe are swapping upstairs!" 

   [Editor's note:  John's love for fine numismatic literature is 
   evident on his web site:  http://www.numismaticliterature.com/, 
   particularly in his article, "The Art of Mailing Books."] 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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