John Huffman writes:

"Frank Katen passed away last Sunday afternoon, just hours before family and a few close friends were to gather for his birthday party. He was 98. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Frank's name to the American Lung Association of Maryland, 14435 Cherry Lane Ct., Laurel, MD 20707. "

NBS Board Member Joel J. Orosz writes:

"Frank Katen was a man of few words and deep convictions. He will forever have a place in the history of Numismatic Bibliomania, for he was the first major dealer in the U.S. (at least since W. Elliot Woodward) to make a specialty of selling books about coins. He remains the only literature dealer to have conducted an ANA sale, and the only one to have attempted a "guide book" of literature prices (published in early editions of the Coin World Almanacs). Frank was the cataloguer of the Fuld collection, the first American blockbuster sale of literature, and also dispersed the greatest cache of 19th century catalogues, the Wylie Hoard. And he did all of this after having waited until middle age to become a professional numismatist. Frank Katen was the pathfinder of American Numismatic Bibliomania."

Board member and past President P. Scott Rubin adds:

"I believe the "guide book" of literature prices first appeared in copies of Coin World before the Coin World Almanac was first printed. George Kolbe also handled an ANA sale but it was only literature, not coins. Frank did most first and handled more great material than most of us will ever see in our entire lives. I wish his wife well. Frank was always a gentleman to me and a dealer who tried to be fair to all of his clients. NBS will miss him. I know I will."

Board member Pete Smith continues:

Former NBS Vice President David Sklow writes: