Born in Chicago. Served four years in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps and the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Married Tillie Sicher in 1950. They had two children. Employed as Chief of the Office of Industrial Security for the Defense Supply Agency, retired in 1972.

Boosel joined the ANA in 1934 and became life member number 77 in 1943. In 1937 he was the youngest member elected to the ANA board of governors. He was chairman of the ANA conventions in 1937 and 1966. He was chairman of National Coin Week in 1950, President of the Chicago Coin Club 1951 and 1952, and president of the Central States Numismatic Society 1958 to 1960.

President Johnson appointed Boosel to the Assay Commission in 1964. He received the ANA Medal of Merit in 1986 and Farran Zerbe Memorial Award in 1989. He was named a Numismatic News Numismatic Ambassador in 1988.

Boosel made a specialty of studying the coinage of 1873. He wrote a series of articles on the topic for NSM. He wrote a book 1873-1873. His collection of coins from 1873 was featured in the 1972 Central States Numismatic Society Sale. It was cataloged by Rare Coin Company of America. Boosel coins were also included in a Merkin sale in 1968 and a Katen sale in 1981.

The 1942 volume of “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” reported that Boosel could recite all the states and all the presidents in a single breath.

He died in Chicago. In 2019 he was inducted into the Chicago Coin Club Hall of Fame.

bio: CAT RARCOA obit: CW 9/5/94; NN 9/6/94