NORA W. HUSSEY (1915-2020)

Nora Hussey was not a collector but worked in industry as Superintendent of the Denver Mint. As such she qualifies for the list of 100-year-old numismatists.

She was born as Honora Lillian Walsh in New York City on March 26, 1915. Her parents were Michael and Lillian Rosenberg Walsh. She attended New York University and America College.

She was married to Shirley Beaumont Hussey (1913-2000) in Texas in 1946. They had no children. They made their home in Sturgis, South Dakota, in 1952. Shirley established Hussey Trucking Company to move livestock.

The Findagrave site for Shirley identifies his first wife as Louella Maureen Hansen Brooks. She married Shirley Hussey on April 4, 1941, and had a son, David.

While living in Texas, Shirley and Nora shared an interest in cowboys and rodeo competition. Nora worked as a bookkeeper and timer for events on the national rodeo circuit.

People get to become Superintendent of the Mint because of their service to their party. Nora was the first woman chairman of the Meade County Republican Party serving from 1964 to 1972. Then she served on the Republican National Committee from South Dakota, serving 1972 to 1981. She was the South Dakota chairman of the Reagan for President Committee, a delegate to the Republican National Nominating Convention and a Presidential Elector for Reagan in 1980. The president nominated her for Superintendent of the Denver Mint and she served 1981 to 1987.

Hussey established a good working relationship with the ANA. In 1982, she hosted visitors who came by bus from the ANA Mid-Winter convention in Colorado Springs. Later in June of 1982, she attended the dedication of an addition to ANA headquarters. Other tours were given during the ANA Summer Seminars. She also participated in educational forums at the California State Numismatic Society during her term in office.

She moved into Edgewood Vista Assisted Living in Spearfish in 2012. As the end of her life approached, she was moved into Hospice House in Rapid City. She died there in Rapid City, South Dakota, on November 8, 2020. She is buried next to Shirley in Auburn, Washington.

In 1982, she was interviewed by Dr. Walter A. Ostromecki Jr, for Coin World. She was quoted, I am amazed at the great lengths collectors go to in pursuing the hobby interests. I am also intrigued at the high prices being paid for coins that are 50 or 100 years old. I didn't realize so many old coins were still around.

Walter Ostromecki later related a story about his interview with Superintendent Hussey. During his visit he was arrested by Mint security for taking a picture of the Superintendent's pink painted rest room. It turned out to be a practical joke orchestrated by Hussey. There was a video recording of Walter's daughter who was screaming and crying. She did not think the joke was funny.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web