BERT BRESSETT, 1925-2012

Bertha B. (Britton) Bressett, age 86, died peacefully in the hospital February 12, after many years of coping with COPD. She was born 1925 in Keene, New Hampshire, and attended schools there with special emphasis on Business Administration. She was married to Kenneth E. Bressett in 1950 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 2010. She is the mother of three children, Philip E. Bressett (wife Joann) of Colorado Springs, Richard J. Bressett of Madison, Wisconsin, and Mary Elizabeth Sauder of Taunton, Massachusetts.

The Bressett family moved from Keene, N.H. to Racine, Wisconsin in 1959, and later spent two years in Des Moines, Iowa. "Bert", as she preferred to be known, moved with her husband to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1982. She was a member of Saint Paul's Catholic Church.

Her parents, Elton and Rosamond Britton (Frizzell) preceded her in death, as did her sister Margaret Kingsbury. In addition to her immediate family that includes one grandson, she leaves her brother Carl Britton, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, a sister, Polly Courchene of Sebastian, Florida, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Much of her life was involved with doing volunteer work for various charitable organizations, and working with children. Among her many special interests were making ceramic ware, travel, reading and folk dancing. She frequently accompanied her husband on trips and was well-known as a hostess and volunteer worker at various numismatic events throughout the country.

We received word of the passing on February 12, 2012, of Ken Bressett's wife Bert. Bert married Ken in 1950 and they have two sons and one daughter. Bert Bressett was well known in the numismatic hobby and it would be very hard to find a more loving, friendly, congenial, honest and family oriented person. Some years back when Bert was able to travel, we always enjoyed seeing and talking to Bert and her husband Ken at the coin shows and other events our paths crossed. We will always remember first meeting Bert, along with her luminary husband Ken when they lived in Racine, WI. At the many coin events we came in contact with Bert and Ken, she always greeted us with a hug and asked how we were doing. Our conversations always centered on family, the numismatic hobby and how other numismatists were doing.

The last time we saw Bert was at American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar some years back. Bert attended the last day's event with her husband Ken. Though Bert was sick, she was smiling and talking about everyone else and how they were doing. When asked by the people she was talking to how she was doing, she smiled, and said fine. Like everyone else who knew Bert, we had a great love and affection for this friendly and loving person. At this last meeting with Bert at the ANA's Summer Seminar, and the many other conversations we had over the many years we knew her, they will always be remembered and cherished.

When Bert received the Numismatic News Ambassador Award in 1999 at the American Numismatic Association convention, one comment was that Bert Bressett's specialty in numismatics was people; it's been said that she "collects ,friends." Truer words have never been said about anyone and few in the hobby had a collection of friends as many as Bert had. It was also said that she has been one of the hobby's best representative to noncollectors and has been a great supporter of the ANA. It wasn't that many years back that Bert was an ANA National Volunteer. She assisted at pre-registration, banquet registration or any other place as needed. For over 60 years, this great person has been a collector, volunteer and loving wife of Ken and her family. Bert was a strong supporter of her husband Ken when he worked for Whitman, as an ANA employee and board member (he served as President), convention chairman,researcher, publisher & author. For Bert Bressett's service and dedication to the numismatic hobby, she not only received the coveted Numismatic News Ambassador Award in 1999; but also from the ANA, a President's Award in July, 2001, in 1993 the Medal of Merit and the Farran Zerbe in 1998.

Over many years we always thought about the health of Bert, and our nightly prayers always included her. In remembering Bert Bressett and her life Winston Churchill said it best, "We make a living by what we get, and we make a life by what we give." We think this says it all about our friend Bert Bressett. During her lifetime she brought not only great joy to her immediate family, but also the thousands of friends and others who crossed her path. All of our prayers and thoughts to Ken Bressett and his family. She will always be in our thoughts and prayers. With sincere sympathy, John and Nancy Wilson, Ocala, FL

Wayne Homren, Editor