Taking My Hacks
In Memory of Manny
As the COVID-19 crisis progressed, we all saw the images on TV and the Internet of people struggling with the virus. Hospitals appeared overrun in some areas and the stories of individuals who succumbed to the virus were plentiful. Some of those names were recognizable due to their level of celebrity, while others were just regular folk like you and me ... people who could be your next-door neighbor.
As tragic as these types of situations are and as horrific as some of the images can be, it becomes far more real and hits home when you actually know someone who perished. It's not to say that we are completely desensitized to what we see on digital media each day, but there is a "distance" between us and what we see in those cases. That distance evaporates when you know someone involved.
A few weeks into the pandemic, a longtime collector by the name of Manny Gordon fell victim to this invisible killer ... and he was someone that I and many other hobbyists knew. When I received the news of his passing, like the crisis itself, it was surreal. I was just talking with him a few weeks back ... it seemed like yesterday, especially with every day blending together as a result of the shelter-at-home orders.
All of a sudden - at least for me - it became personal.
That is not to say the crisis hadn't made its impact on my personal life, because it has affected all of us in different ways, but I had yet to feel it in this way. I recognized some of the names of famous people who died, but I didn't know them. I never shared a meal with them. I never talked about my kids with them. I never sent them a holiday card. I never hugged them. I can't claim that I was one of Manny's closest friends, but we were indeed friends.
For those of you who didn't know Manny, he was a passionate collector and - more importantly - an extremely warm human being. Manny, a veteran of the jewelry business, took the eye that he sharpened after years of evaluating various gemstones and brought it to the world of baseball cards. Quality was a top priority for Manny, and you can clearly see that focus in the relatively small but amazing collection he assembled over the years.
He loved the process of building a collection too. Manny was patient, selective and savored the hunt. Manny relished the essence of collecting in the most obvious and joyous way. The satisfaction he got from acquiring a necessary piece to any of his hobby puzzles was evident, every time. Manny loved engaging with others. He was active on the PSA Set Registry and enjoyed building relationships with those he met through the venue, online and at shows.
I will miss Manny's soothing, calming voice. Hearing him talk felt like watching maple syrup being poured over a stack of piping hot pancakes. I will miss Manny's laugh ... and boy did he love to laugh. I will miss talking to him about things other than baseball cards, like family and friends. I will miss many things about Manny, and the hobby will miss Manny too because the world needs more people like him. He made my life, and many other people's lives, better.
I know I am not the only person in the world who has lost someone they knew or someone they loved during this terrible time, but I wanted to share Manny's story with everyone, whether you knew him or not. It is a reminder, to all of us, how deadly this virus can be ... especially to those most vulnerable. Our efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 matter.
Keep up the fight and do what you can to protect your loved ones and those loved by others.
Never get cheated,
Joe Orlando
President & CEO
Collectors Universe, Inc.