JOHN EDWARD GUSMANO (1963-2024)

Prolific elongated coin engraver John Gusmano, TEC #4513, died March 6, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, peacefully and with a heart full of love, according to his family, following an eight-month-long battle with lung cancer. He was 60.

The world of elongateds has lost a true talent, said TEC president, Tyler Tyson, TEC #3262. Those that worked with John understand the loss.

Among those is Michelle Kilcoyne, TEC #5096, graphic designer, engraver, owner of The Penny Depot, and daughter-in-law of James and Carol Kilcoyne, TEC #1887 and #3176. John's absence will be deeply felt; he leaves an indelible mark on the elongated penny world, she said.

Graphic designer and TEC vice president, Paul Conner, TEC #3951, echoed that sentiment, saying, When my phone rang and I heard [of John's death], I just packed my stuff up and went home immediately.

John worked in the tool and die graphics industry for over 40 years, including time with Tenibac-Graphion Inc. He was my friend as well as a business associate, having done the majority of my die work for almost 20 years, said TEC treasurer and immediate past president, Cindy Calhoun, TEC #3467-LM. Years ago, my husband, Ed, my mom, and I were on a RV trip and stopped to visit John. He gave us a tour of the facility, showed us how die rings were etched, and presented Ed and me with an engraved bottle of champagne for our 25th wedding anniversary.

When Tenibac-Graphion was sold in 2018, John started his own business, C&J Engraving, and secured his place in the history of the hobby. Although most collectors never met John, they likely possess dozens, if not hundreds, of elongated coins rolled from dies he engraved. Based on his 12 C&J invoice books, which started in 2018, he likely did more than 3,000 elongated engravings, said Cindy.

Over the years, what was supposed to be a quick call to check on the status of my engravings would often turn into an extended conversation, said Tyler. I truly believed I had my finger on the pulse of the elongated coin world, but John knew our world on a level that was much deeper than anyone else.

John devoted his time to doing dies for others, said Cindy. When I was helping his family return die rings to their owners, I was surprised that we found only three die rings with images he did for himself. Everything else had been work for others. 

Paul added, I had some fundraiser jobs I worked on where he would either do the etching for free or at a reduced cost to help with the efforts.

Michelle recalled, Back in the 1990s, I heard stories about John and how great it was to work with him. In the early 2000s, I had the opportunity to send him artwork. He was always incredibly helpful when Carol and I first started with CorelDRAW graphics software. John generously shared tips to enhance my designs over the years. I enjoyed experimenting with new ideas, even if John initially doubted their feasibility. However, more often than not, the outcomes proved successful, and eventually, he began to engrave my designs without question.

He did hundreds of etchings for me, said Paul, and came to me for artwork on many projects that he was working on. He was always very nice and usually straight to the point. I would always ask if he saw anything that might not etch well and he would let me know if he saw anything.

Even when I started engraving my own dies, Michelle recalled, John and I continued to collaborate frequently. If he had intricate designs that required engraving, he would send them to me. Despite our both being engravers for the past several years, we maintained our communication and partnership. I never viewed him as competition; rather, he was a compassionate individual who excelled as a chemical engraver. He was the finest chemical engraver in the industry, in my opinion.

Known as a calm man with wide-ranging passions, John's cool, easy going demeanor made any issue I had, easy to resolve, said Tyler. Our conversations would veer off into numerous things besides elongates; he was very easy to talk to, said Tyler.

John was not only a skilled engraver but also a wonderful person with whom I shared many conversations about life, added Michelle.

Among John's many passions was music. When he turned 40, he taught himself how to play guitar. He loved to jam with his band, RCG. He was always positive, extremely generous and immensely wise – a master in psychology without the degree, as his daughter, Jessica Urick, put it.

John Edward Gusmano was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 10, 1963, to Audrey Lee and Marion Anthony (Gus) Gusmano. John was the first born, folowed by his sisters, Eleanor and Katherine. After graduating from high school in Mount Clemens, Michigan, he moved to Key Marathon. He and his former wife, Karen, had two children. In 2021, John returned to Michigan and settled in Grand Rapids, where he met his fiancé.

John is survived by his fiancé, Linda; two children, John Anthony (JoAnna) Gusmano and Jessica (William) Urick; two grandchildren, Joshua and Joslyn; five step-grandchildren and nine step-great grandchildren.

As John wished, his closest friends and family will celebrate his life privately over the summer, his favorite season. Meanwhile, his family has posted a memorial video on YouTube. In the video, while on vacation in Nicaragua, John remarked, the hardest thing I did [today] was grind coffee beans and decide what swimsuit to put on. He wisely advised the viewer to go to your happy place. I'm going to come right here. Grinding coffee would be my happy place.

We encourage you to watch the YouTube video put together by Jessica: Rest in paradise, John Edward Gusmano, found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Km7HZidUM

For more information on The Elongated Collectors Inc., see:
https://tecnews.org/

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