PATRICK E. MCBRIDE (1952-2026)

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 23, 2026, Article 3

Our good friend Pat McBride died Tuesday morning. Sandy Pearl pulled together this article with assistance from the ANA and the E-Sylum archives. Thank you. I still can't quite believe he's gone. -Editor

Patrick McBride, an avid numismatist, a long-time wonderful Ben Franklin re-enactor, and a staunch supporter of PAN (Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists), was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on November 9, 1952. He passed away on June 2, 2026, after a heroic battle with cancer.

He and his wife, Dawn, opened their home at the end and over 120 friends visited over several days. A memorial service is planned for Pat at the end of the August 2026 World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh.

Pat was an accomplished collector. He was an award-winning exhibitor, including his first-place awards in 1989 at the National Money Show for his Military Payment Certificates and in 2019 at the National Money Show for his Byzantine coin display.

He joined the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in 1984 and was honored by the ANA with their Presidential Award in 2015, the Glenn Smedley Memorial Award in 2019, Adna G. Wilde, Jr. Memorial Award for Exemplary Service on August 2022 and the Medal of Merit in 2025. In 2019 he was host chair for the Pittsburgh ANA National Money Show and received the ANA Goodfellow Award. Pat was a charter member of the recently created George F. Heath Society. He chaired the ANA Fund Development Committee. He contributed the rare early issues of The Numismatist to help complete the ANA's digital archive.

Pat was a member of the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society, one of the oldest numismatic societies in the country. He created a beautiful, non-competitive exhibit of the society's history to commemorate the society's 100-year anniversary as an ANA club. Pat was a member of Roundtable Trading, Society of Paper Money Collectors, Florida United Numismatists, Central States Numismatic Society, and the 1715 Fleet Society.

When numismatic literature dealer John Burns died unexpectedly in 2014, McBride stepped in as executor to manage the disposition of his estate. Patrick founded the John Burns Memorial Reference Library that has traveled to past ANA Conventions, Central States Convention, and PAN Conventions.

Pat was a well-known Ben Franklin re-enactor. He was the rare re-enactor who was extremely well-versed in Franklin's life history, the times when he became a highly respected leader, as well as the coins, currency, and exonumia of those times. Pat attended numerous coin shows and schools around the country helping to educate people on Franklin and his times.

Pat joined the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN) in 1984 and was the association secretary, President, PAN Coin Show and convention coordinator, social media director, and PAN website administrator. He was also editor of the PAN eNews. In the words of Wayne Homren, E-Sylum editor,

"I've known Pat since my early days with the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists in the mid-1980s. He has always been there to help out the club and promote numismatics, putting in countless hours of volunteer time. People like Pat are the backbone of our clubs and the hobby in general. He's al- ways seeking to try new ideas and learn, just like old Ben."

Pat was a long-time resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He attended Slippery Rock University during 1970 to 1973. In 1973 he began work as a professional wallpaper hanger. Pat married Dawn Rogers and they had two sons and a daughter.

"So sorry to hear about Pat. Wonderfully generous man who's contributed so much to the numismatic cultural scene."

"Oddly enough, I didn't hear of his passing from anyone in coins, but rather a friend from a Carole King group who lives in Pittsburgh and knew him! Small world indeed."

"I had met Pat at several shows over the past few years. He was always very enjoyable to speak with. At the recent Central States Show we spent at least an hour together since it was a slow show for him and he was very willing to discuss Ben Franklin and the reactions he got from show attendees. He said that most people tried to "stump" him with a Franklin question. I took that as an invitation so I asked him if he resented being older than the other founding fathers and so was never President. This led to an interesting discussion. His answer was "no"."

"We are saddened to hear of the death of Pat McBride. We had so much fun talking with him at various numismatic events like ANA, EAC and Central States. We remember how much he helped settling the estate of numismatic book dealer John Burns and his kindness in taking on such a difficult task. We learned a lot about Benjamin Franklin from our conversations and also enjoyed just getting to know Pat personally. We will miss him greatly at the Pittsburgh ANA convention and at future shows."

Maria passed along these great photos. Thank you! Above right is Maria with Pat's alter ego at the Central States show earlier this year. -Editor

Right: A photo of Pat McBride, U.S. Mint Director David Ryder and myself at the 2019 Pittsburgh ANA National Money Show Welcome Banquet.

"Pat left this world with a smile ear to ear on its face for his involvement."

I'll close with the note I included in my Diary article last week. -Editor

Planning to Meet in the Irish Pub
After leaving the show I stopped for lunch, then followed GPS directions to my old friend Pat McBride's house in McKeesport, PA. I've known Pat for 40 years or more. The Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists was still young and Pat worked hard as editor of the club's newsletters. He and PAN cofounder and Chairman of the Board Don Carlucci became like older brothers to me in the hobby, and I volunteered alongside them to help build the organization. I continued helping where I could once I got married and we began having kids. Then we moved down to Virginia and I rarely got to visit the shows let alone help set them up.

But Pat soldiered on through it all, eventually taking over organizing and marketing the club's shows, making sure the contracts got signed, speakers arranged, signs and advertising readied, tables set up, lights and cases placed, and social media alerted. He brought in Dennis Boggs to embody Abraham Lincoln, and later morphed himself into a remarkable Ben Franklin. As his alter ego Ben, he not only promoted PAN and numismatics across the country, he performed for innumerable classrooms across Pennsylvania, all while being treated for cancer.

While his treatments had his cancer in remission, it recently returned with a vengeance. Pat had hoped to attend the PAN Banquet, but was unable to. He entered hospice care at home this weekend. I had a nice visit with him and his wife Dawn. I gave him my copy of the banquet program and insert. We talked about the show and the club, my work with The E-Sylum and my latest coin purchase. He was worried about things falling apart at PAN without him, and I tried to reassure him that people will find a way to make it through. The PAN show is a juggernaut with a life of its own at this point. Now one of the largest regional shows in the country, Pat was there from the days when we had to pass the hat to make ends meet.

As a truck arrived to deliver hospital equipment, it was time for me to say goodbye. He didn't think he'd be here when I come back for the Pittsburgh ANA this summer. "I'll see you on the other side," he said, as we held hands. I told him, "When I meet St. Peter, I'll say I'm here to have a pint with Patrick McBride." Pat said, "He'll say you can find me in the Irish pub."

My GPS guided me to the highway, and as I got up to speed on the PA turnpike, Spotify decided to play the Nitty Ditty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky.