Pat McBride writes:

One of the many highlights of the night was Wayne Homren's hilarious story about the 1988 visit to prominent numismatic book collector Armand Champa's personal library and the follow up dinner that John was invited to and was disappointed in that it wasn't at Armand's usual excellent steakhouse that John was so looking forward to along with that big free steak.

Armand reassured him that the selected Italian restaurant was equally as good but John was not easily convinced. Armand took it upon himself to discreetly call the chef in advance and asked him to prepare a special dish with the emphasis on red meat for his special large friend.

As the numismatic luminaries were seated the chef appeared and placed before John's eyes the largest meatball on a bed of spaghetti that the roomful had ever seen. The look on Burns' face and the roar of laughter was priceless.

Armand passed away in 1997. I am sure John Burns and Armand are now recalling that special night and the great memories and numismatic book tales that were the passion that they each shared.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR JOHN H. BURNS(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n23a14.html)