Coin collector, dealer and club member Donald Valenziano Jr. died unexpectedly Aug. 1 from complications after hip surgery.
Mr. Valenziano joined the Chicago Coin Club in April 1982. He served as editor of the club’s monthly publication, The Chatter, from 1984-1988 and regularly attended meetings until moving to Long Island, N.Y. in 1988. He moved to Houston, Texas, in 2000 then returned to Chicago three years ago.
He was an officer in the Early American Copper Collectors, a past president of the Morton Grove, Ill., Coin Club and held memberships in the American Numismatic Association, American Numismatic Society, Central States Numismatic Society, Colonial Coin Club, Illinois Numismatic Association, Michigan State Numismatic Society and Houston Coin Club.
Mr. Valenziano collected 1893 Columbian Exposition medals and U.S. half cents by die variety. He became a full-time coin dealer in 1986. He often attended coin shows and sold on eBay.
He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 36 years, daughter Patty Fagan, two grandchildren, his parents, four sisters and a brother.
The visitation and funeral were held at the Kurtz Memorial Chapel and St. Jude’s Catholic Church, both of New Lenox, Ill.
