13 replies to this topic

[david i]

I heard on Facebook today from Hirsch Davis that Bert Heiserman had passed away. Bert was a fixture in our hobby. He frequented pen shows and ran a brick and morter vintage pen shop just outside Washington DC in Kensington's Antiques Row. He had wrestled with truly critical illnesses for more than a decade. He was a good guy and had a superior collection of old pens, not limited to Parker and Chilton. A huge loss...

regards

david

[Rick Krantz]

Bert will be missed. I had many pleasant conversations with him, and he was a genuine nice guy.

I think universally, we could all agree this has been a tough year on the pen community.

[Greg Minuskin]

Very sad news indeed. I found Bert to be a pillar of the pen community and he will be sorely missed. Always treated me well, and was nice to everyone.




Greg Minuskin

www.gregminuskin.com

greg@gregminuskin.com

[hughdrbf]

Concur.

I had the pleasure of making a number of visits to Bert's shop over the years. Always a smile, many stories told from the heart, and a warm handshake. Truly miss him.

Hugh

[marcshiman]

Bert was my first and best mentor in this business. I remember wandering into his shop on Antiques Row a decade ago when I was busy collecting modern pens, and he opened my eyes to a completely new world of vintage pens. I visited his workshop at his home where he had countless pens, parts, half-assembled pens, and some of the most unique pens you've ever seen. There's nobody that had a greater influence on me than Bert.

On any given weekend, his pen shop was the center of the not-yet-named Middle Atlantic Pen Club. Bert always held center stage, and lavished attention on anyone seeking to buy one of his rare beloved Sheaffers, or looking for a ballpoint refill for Dad's Cross pen.


He had a huge heart, and as David correctly said he battled everything his body threw at him. I'm so deeply disappointed we've lost him.

We are all going to miss you, Bert.

Marc

[Greg Minuskin]

It is nice to see more then 3 people here recognizing Bert's contribution to our wonderful interests (there are only 3 posts on the FPN so far.)

I would like to see more comments and "stories" here to show our support and memories of Bert and his life on this wonderful site.....

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com
greg@gregminuskin.com

Edited by Greg Minuskin, 25 June 2013 - 02:31 PM.

[Jim B]

Most FPN folks have probably never even heard of Bert, let alone know what a great guy he was.

[Greg Minuskin]

Sad but true! Most have near heard of dear Bert, and the way he contributed to the pen world at large.

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com
greg@gregminuskin.com

[Rick Krantz]

I have a great Bert story, unfortunately I cannot tell it. Pretty incredible story though.

I only wish I had taken more trips to pen haven over the years. I will miss Bert, sekng him at the pen shows, since he was at all the local ones to me. I'm glad I knew him.

[Ray-Vigo]

I've been a bit busy at work and not on the boards lately, but I too will miss Bert. I used to visit his shop a couple times per month, and he was a good friend. This year's DC show will not be the same without him.

[Michael Quitt]

Bert and I were friends for over 30 years. We started collecting pens at the same time under the mentorship of Jeff Silverman, an old time collector, who moved from MD to CA many years ago.

Bert and I spoke on the phone 2-3 times a week over much of that time...and, talked about much more than "just pens". I was privileged to attend his and Alice's wedding and to attend his son, Jason's marriage to Lauren. Another great memory was the time that the two of us, with our spouses, surprised Warren Granek on one of his major birthdays... and a good time was had by all.

Over the years we "bailed each other out" with parts and whole pens, whenever either of us needed "help". No money was ever exchanged and we never kept a tab.

We had a ritual, before almost every DC Pen Show, over all of these many years. I'd visit Bert for help in pricing pens. I really didn't need the help, in later years, but we enjoyed the get together, anyway. There are so many Bert stories, that I wouldn't know where to begin telling them. I just know that that my life is a bit empty without him in it and it will feel very strange to not see him at the DC Show, ever again.

Michael Quitt

Edited by Michael Quitt, 06 August 2013 - 06:42 PM.

[Greg Minuskin]

What a great relationship you had with Bert! I can say that Bert always treated me very nicely, never treated me poorly, and was aways wearing a smile on his face.

Wish I could have known him more. I did retipping for him for years, but over the Internet and by mail. Never visited his store.

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com
greg@gregminuskin.com

Edited by Greg Minuskin, 10 August 2013 - 03:31 PM.

[hughdrbf]

What a great relationship you had with Bert! I can say that Bert always treated me very nicely, never treated me poorly, and was aways wearing a smile on his face.

Wish I could have known him more. I did retipping for him for years, but over the Internet and by mail. Never visited his store.

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com
greg@gregminuskin.com

Greg,

Many times while visiting Bert at his store we talked about the restorations I was in the midst of. Often times I was asking Bert for his insights, guidance, and recommendations for the job, to which he was always glad to share. Coincident with these master classes I was attending, your skill and craftsmanship was discussed at length as both Bert and I have benefitted by your excellent work and customer service for many years.

We both spoke to each other of you in the highest regard. When he spoke of you and the service you have and were providing to him, Bert always was smiling.

Hugh

[Greg Minuskin]

Dear Hugh,

That is very nice to hear! I did not know that Bert would talk/mention me, in conversation, when I did retips/repairs for him!

Thank you! I am pleased that you also have benefited from my work, and I will continue to provide the service/expertise the pen community is expecting from me for many years to come, including the 2 week turn around time too

Sincerely,

Greg

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com
greg@gregminuskin.com