Each year the Numismatic Literary Guild presents awards during the American NumismaticAssociation World's Fair of Money. With good food and entertainment, the NLG hasbeen popular with members and guests.

The highest annual award is named in honor of NLG founding member ClementBailey. I attended the NLG on August 18, 2011, when the Clemy winner was announced.I rose to my feet and walked to the stage as the crowd gave a round of applause.

The applause was not for me. Taking my arm for support was Kay Lenker. The applause was forher. She was 89 at the time and had been a supporter of the NLG for many years includingservice as club treasurer 1985 to 2012.

Catharine R. Fean was born in Philadelphia on November 29, 1922. Her father was a mailcarrier, Albin J. Fean, and her mother was also named Catharine R. (1898-1989). She received aB.A. from Immaculata in 1944 and an M.A, from San Diego State University in 1976.

Kay was certified as a meteorologist in 1945 and served on active duty in the U. S. Navy from 1944 to 1954. She retired from the Navy Reserves with the rank of Captain. She then worked with the United States WeatherBureau from 1955 to 1958 and with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography 1958 to 1978. Shecontinued working as a consulting meteorologist 1978 to 1981.

She developed an interest in collecting coins in 1955. With her husband posted to Japan 1962 to1965, she developed an interest in Japanese coinage. In the 1970's, she was a frequent exhibitorat shows in Southern California and often received awards. She joined the ANAin 1961 and converted to life member LM 626. She was certified as an ANA judge in 1976. Inrecent years I judged an exhibit she had on coins.

As Catharine R. Fean, she was co-chairman for the San Diego Numismatic Society banquetcommittee in 1960 and an exhibitor in 1961. She was publicity chairman for the San DiegoCounty Interclub Numismatic Council Coinarama in 1961.

Kay married Stuart T. Edgerton on September 1, 1961, and their marriage ended with his deathon February 15, 1978. Her second marriage was to John E. Lenker on January 26, 1980, andlasted until his death on April 14, 1993.

It might take a century to compile a list of her service to coin clubs. She has organized exhibits,managed publicity and been a program speaker. Here is an attempt, probably incomplete, to listoffices she has held.

Kay was named a Krause Publications Numismatic Ambassador in 1987. She was honored forher service with an ANA Outstanding District Delegate Award in 1992 and a Glenn SmedleyMemorial Award in 2003. As mentioned earlier, she received the NLG Clemy Award in 2011. In2022 she was honored with the Elvira Clain Stefanelli Memorial Award for Achievement inNumismatics.

I wrote this article on November 29, 2022, on the occasion of her 100 th birthday. She now joinsthe elite group of 100-year-old numismatists. I will be interested to hear how she is doing.

Although I refer to her as Catharine, her name also appears as Catherine. I found these referencesto her on the Newman Numismatic Portal.

When she worked for Scripps, she wrote a report published under the name of Catharine Fean.In the 1930 Census, her name is recorded as Catharane Fean.

In the 1940 Census, her name is recorded as Catherine R. Fean.

I interviewed her at the ANA convention on August 13, 1991. I recorded her date of birth asNovember 29, 1922. I have not found another source to confirm that date.The Clustrmaps.com site lists her date of birth as June 1, 1923.The Newber.com site lists her as male.

The inconsistencies seen in this case are not unusual with similar research.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ALAN HERBERT 1926-2013(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n04a06.html)
100-YEAR-OLD NUMISMATISTS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n51a14.html)