sad news

This is sad and shocking news. I always enjoyed seeing Bill at the Philly shows I attended. It won't be the same without him.

RIP Bill. You will be missed.

That's tough to read. A few months ago, I had contacted Bill about some cards that would complete one of his sets. The trade got delayed because he was traveling (Philly, Chicago show) and then I was gone for a month. Then, last month he told me he was in the hospital. He didn't say how he was doing but thanked me for letting him know that I was hoping to hear that he was on the mend. I didn't hear from him again.

I never met Bill face-to-face but we traded promos in the late 90's-early 2000's. I still have some of the lists he used to mail out (actual printed pages stapled together). He was into promo card collecting before it was "a thing." Certainly one of the foremost experts on promos. Of course, he was NSU's overall card pricing specialist for many years and knowledgeable about a wide range of cards, and I presume, other collectibles.

What might not be widely known was that Bill was always picking up some extra promos especially at Philly to give to people who couldn't be at the show. I recall in one of his 2004 columns that he offered to give away the Philly promo dedicated to him (#32) to anyone who wrote back to him. He was still giving them away in his last trade list. Class move.

I can only try to imagine the sense of loss his closer friends and his family must feel today. Sincerest condolences to you out there.

quote:

Originally posted by hammer:
Very Sad news that NSU's Promo and Pricing Guru passed away in the night. Such a lovely man and a great friend of NSU and the Philly show. I am sure NSU and Harris will post more.

Thoughts are with his family. RIP Bill it was lovely to know you

Very sad. I didn't know Mr. DeFranzo but I was certainly aware of his contributions to the community. My condolences to the family.

I want to thank you all for the nice words said about my father today. My father was always an aggressive, well informed, collector. I remember when he discovered promo cards for the first time at card show in New Jersey when he stated, "what is this card, and why is it not in the set I have?" A hobby was born on that day. My father lived and breathed promo cards. Any collector who needed help, I watched my father go the extra mile. He met some great people and made some lifelong friends. As hard as it is to write these words...I felt I owed it to the promo world to let you all know this hobby and the fellow promo collectors meant the world to him. Even in the hospital in his final days he gave me a list of people he was trying to help. I will be contacting you soon. Thanks again for all of the kind words.

quote:

Originally posted by David DeFranzo:
I want to thank you all for the nice words said about my father today. My father was always an aggressive, well informed, collector. I remember when he discovered promo cards for the first time at card show in New Jersey when he stated, "what is this card, and why is it not in the set I have?" A hobby was born on that day. My father lived and breathed promo cards. Any collector who needed help, I watched my father go the extra mile. He met some great people and made some lifelong friends. As hard as it is to write these words...I felt I owed it to the promo world to let you all know this hobby and the fellow promo collectors meant the world to him. Even in the hospital in his final days he gave me a list of people he was trying to help. I will be contacting you soon. Thanks again for all of the kind words.

Our thoughts are with you David and all of your Family. Your Father was a big part of the card collecting family too, thanks for sharing him with us.

quote:

Originally posted by David DeFranzo:
I want to thank you all for the nice words said about my father today. My father was always an aggressive, well informed, collector. I remember when he discovered promo cards for the first time at card show in New Jersey when he stated, "what is this card, and why is it not in the set I have?" A hobby was born on that day. My father lived and breathed promo cards. Any collector who needed help, I watched my father go the extra mile. He met some great people and made some lifelong friends. As hard as it is to write these words...I felt I owed it to the promo world to let you all know this hobby and the fellow promo collectors meant the world to him. Even in the hospital in his final days he gave me a list of people he was trying to help. I will be contacting you soon. Thanks again for all of the kind words.

Thanks for posting this David. As you said, and "catskilleagle" said above, Bill was always trying to pick up cards and help others. He would always have a list of people he was trying to help at the Philly Show and would always ask me if he should pick up things for anyone else or if others should be added to his list.

This was just one of many great things I will will remember about Bill. He will really be missed. I'm very sorry for your loss.

I was devastated to read the news of his passing yesterday. I knew Bill for 20 years and he visited my home in Bayonne twice. I last spoke to him just a few weeks ago. Terrible, terrible news. David, I am so sorry !

I only 'knew' Bill through his articles in NSU, which I always enjoyed reading. I am saddened by this news. I am very sorry for your loss.

This is very sad news. For those of us who knew Bill he was a true gentleman and despite the many adversities in his life, he always had a warm smile. When I started collecting promo cards in the early 1990s, Bill was already the undisputed guru of this niche collecting area and we continued to be friends throughout the years, even going to his house for dinner to peruse his amazing collection. I will sorely miss Bill. His passing is a huge loss to the non sports collective. Rest in peace my friend.

I thought the community might get a kick out of what we're doing as a tribute to my Father at his wake. We have created one of his favorite prayers on a Non-Sport card and are placing it on back of his promo card. You must be at the wake to get a card however... in the spirit of my father, I have held back a few if anyone on this site would like a card, I will make sure you get one (while they last). We will work out the shipping details later, a self addressed stamped envelope is fine, but I will save cards for people while they last. Thanks again for the kind words about my father. He had wonderful friends in the Non-Sport world.

It is very sad news indeed to hear of Bill's passing. I only communicated with him very rarely and usually by email. I remember winning a prize in a completion he set regarding promo cards several years ago.

David

I would like one of his "wake" cards to go along with the non autographed and autographed versions I already have.

My condolences to the family on your loss.

regards

John Levitt

I am so sorry to hear this. Bill and I traded promos for over 20 years. He always came through with that rare or special card I needed. I will always remember our talks at the Philly show and emails back and forth. Bill was a great person. My thoughts are with his family. I will miss you Bill.

quote:

Originally posted by David DeFranzo:
I thought the community might get a kick out of what we're doing as a tribute to my Father at his wake. We have created one of his favorite prayers on a Non-Sport card and are placing it on back of his promo card. You must be at the wake to get a card however... in the spirit of my father, I have held back a few if anyone on this site would like a card, I will make sure you get one (while they last). We will work out the shipping details later, a self addressed stamped envelope is fine, but I will save cards for people while they last. Thanks again for the kind words about my father. He had wonderful friends in the Non-Sport world.

I would certainly Like to have one of your Dad's wake cards, that's a great tribute.

quote:

Originally posted by David DeFranzo:
I thought the community might get a kick out of what we're doing as a tribute to my Father at his wake. We have created one of his favorite prayers on a Non-Sport card and are placing it on back of his promo card. You must be at the wake to get a card however... in the spirit of my father, I have held back a few if anyone on this site would like a card, I will make sure you get one (while they last). We will work out the shipping details later, a self addressed stamped envelope is fine, but I will save cards for people while they last. Thanks again for the kind words about my father. He had wonderful friends in the Non-Sport world.

Please keep one of the tribute cards for me to remember Bill by, thank you.

David, I would love one of Bill's cards. Thank you. He was a good friend

I would love to have one of your Dad's tribute cards as well. Thank you David.

Mr. DeFranzo,

I want to thank you for even just thinking of us so soon in your own time of grief. Most sons and daughters of an influential and well-liked collector have no idea of the impact their parent had in their hobby. They know "Dad collects trading cards" but they are surprised when they get a bunch of sympathy cards from people they don't know. In Bill's case there are people who would like to pay their respects from all over the world. Some people less connected to the internet won't hear the news until the next local show. It's great that you have some idea of how many of us are out here thinking of your father these past few days and that you know how involved he was not just in finding cards for himself but also in educating people about the hobby through his column and helping others directly in finding cards for them.

If you have an extra prayer card, I would like one as well.

I hope your family finds some comfort in knowing there are many more people than they realize that feel they have lost a friend.

Jess

quote:

Originally posted by David DeFranzo:
I thought the community might get a kick out of what we're doing as a tribute to my Father at his wake. We have created one of his favorite prayers on a Non-Sport card and are placing it on back of his promo card. You must be at the wake to get a card however... in the spirit of my father, I have held back a few if anyone on this site would like a card, I will make sure you get one (while they last). We will work out the shipping details later, a self addressed stamped envelope is fine, but I will save cards for people while they last. Thanks again for the kind words about my father. He had wonderful friends in the Non-Sport world.

I would like a card. Your father helped me out with promos while I was laid up in bed from all the times in the hospital. Hopfully, the next NSU mag will have a pic of him on the NSU price guide.

Hello Again -

I am sorry it's been a few days. My fathers services were Thursday and Friday. What a great send off, although very sad for us. He would be happy to know his cards went fast too! It was great meeting some local collectors who had some wonderful stories about my father. Those who asked at this point on the board, I did save you cards. Please send me your name, address, and phone number via dsandz@yahoo.com. Please make the subject "Your Father's Card." It will be my treat to send these to you. I will also be keeping you updated on future information as well. Thanks again for being part of my Father's collector family.

David