Dick Gaetano, a longtime member of numismatic and other collector organizations in the Pittsburgh area, has passed. Ed Krivoniak and Corleen Chesonis of the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society (WPNS) passed along the word. Thank you. Born June 1, 1938, he died on April 13, 2025, just days after attending the April WPNS meeting. -Editor

Dick was a regular speaker at WPNS and other clubs including the Pittsburgh Numismatic Society and the Pennsylvania Area Token Collectors Organization (PATCO), with a specialty in tokens and medals. But his interests went far beyond numismatics, to include bottle and postcard collecting. He seemed to be present at every coin show, flea market, and collectible club or show in western Pennsylvania. Here's his 1991 WPNS portrait.

Dick looked out for his fellow collectors. Knowing I was interested in Pittsburgh postcards, he always brought groups of his duplicates to coin meetings, where I'd purchase many of them. It was through Dick that I built most of the postcard collection I eventually donated to the Heinz History Center.

He was an E-Sylum reader and wrote in 2006 about his start as a coin collector. -Editor

"I started coin collecting in 1948, as a paper boy delivering the Pittsburgh Press in Dormont, PA. I found most of my collection in collecting for the paper each week and I even introduced a woman customer to collecting. What a great time coin collecting has been for me these last 58 years."

In 2016 Dick told us about visiting George Marlier. Born in 1868, Marlier was ANA Member 102 and lived until 1967, just four months short of his 100th birthday. He was ANA's longest-surviving member. -Editor

"I remember going to George Marlier's office in 1948 or 1949. I think it was in the Union Trust Bldg. He shared an office with a lawyer. All he had was a safe, a table and two chairs. I bought a Trade dollar and a 1545 Netherland Brabant and a Constantine coin from him. He was very old but with it and very nice to me."

Pete Smith shared these images of Dick's personal tokens. -Editor

Here's Dick at the far right of the group of local volunteers at the April 2019 American Numismatic Association National Money Show in Pittsburgh. -Editor

Here he is again, Zelig-like, in his yellow volunteer shirt at the back of the room at Kevin Flynn's presentation at the October 2014 PAN show. His constant presence will be missed. -Editor

"What sad news, Dick was such a great and fascinating guy. It's hard to imagine a world without him."

"Dick was one of my original mentors at PNS. He introduced me to leprosy tokens/money in which I have collected till today, acquiring many rare items.

You made a distinct and positive effect on my collecting. I thank you, Dick."

"Richard Gaetano was the epitome of a history teacher. His combined knowledge of numismatics and history, truly made his vocational skills shine.

"I believe he told me that he had a meeting every day of the month, except when there were five weeks in the month. I called Richard the "ICE man":

"I
Collect
Everything."

Thanks, everyone. -Editor