DONALD S. HIRSCHHORN (1927-2020)

I just learned of the passing of Don Hirschhorn two weeks ago today. His name is perhaps not so well known recently, but he was a giant in the coin supply business during the 1960s-70s.

He was Whitman's biggest jobber (wholesale distributor) throughout the '60s, forming Don Hirschhorn, Ltd., with offices in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom. He even put out a series of Whitman folders under his name as publisher that were distributed solely in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. During the 1970s he broke with Whitman, purchasing the old stamp firm of H. G. Treacher Company and publishing his own line of coin folders under that name or his new Treat brand through 1980. I'm attaching a few images of his many stamp and coin products.

Back when I began my work on producing coin album books and foolishly thought I could cover all publishers in a single volume, I exchanged emails with Don, then retired in the Miami area. More recently, I've been in touch with his wife, Sandra, as Don was experiencing dementia in his later years. I had only recently sent a draft of my biography of Don that is to appear in my book on Whitman products when Sandra notified me of his passing January 12.

There are no specific plans for a memorial, but when I asked Sandra what sort of recognition is appropriate she suggested that Don would have appreciated a donation to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center (www.yadvashem.org). I've done this already and invite others who knew him to do the same.

Donald was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 30, 1927, to Irving Hirschhorn and Bessie Passoff, both immigrants from Russia. He raised his family in Jericho, Long Island before moving to Hawley, PA, where he and his wife, Sandra, designed and built their dream home on a lake, and Boca Raton, FL. They moved to Monroe Township nine years ago.

Donald served as a Technician Fifth Grade for the U.S. Army until 1946. A World War II veteran and member of the Greatest Generation, he was particularly proud of his service stationed at the Panama Canal Zone.

Shortly after graduating from City College in New York, in 1952, he started a business distributing numismatic and philatelic products to retailers. As a boy, Donald was an avid stamp collector; by 1964, he had formed Don Hirschhorn, Inc. with offices in New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico as well as Canada and England. By the late 1960's he began publishing his own line of stamp and coin collecting products including prepackaged stamps featuring specific themes, stamp albums and coin folders.

Donald was the proud patriarch of a large extended family and organized various reunions to remind younger generations of the contributions family members had made to the United States. His wise and loving counsel to family members will be greatly missed, as will his steadfast, uncomplaining manner and good humor.

Dave Lange adds:

To read the complete article, see:
Donald Stanley Hirschhorn (https://www.msmc.us/obituary/345079/Donald-Hirschhorn/)

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