Our Philatelic Hall of Fame
Since its founding in 1961, the Westfield Stamp Club has created a rich tradition of serving the needs of stamp collectors throughout the central New Jersey region. In addition, many of our members have made significant contributions to the hobby as a whole in a variety of roles. In so doing, they not only advanced philately, but also enhanced the prominence of the Westfield Stamp Club.
So that these members may be recognized for their work and accomplishments, the Board of Governors has decided to establish the Westfield Stamp Club Hall of Fame as part of the Club’s 50th anniversary celebration. In this inaugural year, we will induct four of our past members. Thereafter, we will induct new members on an annual basis as the Board of Governors deems appropriate. Please read and enjoy the information about our four initial inductees.
A. Warren Scheller (1926-2014)
2014 Inductee
Westfield Stamp Club
Hall of Fame
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A. Warren Scheller
Rev. Charles M. Fitz
Elliot Perry
A. Vincent Samuelson
Sidney Schneider
Warren Scheller was born in Patchogue, New York, and resided in Watchung, New Jersey, with his wife of 66 years, Althea. Warren served our country as a proud United States Marine in the occupation of Japan during World War II.
Throughout his life, Warren was an avid and enthusiastic stamp collector. In the Autumn of 1961, together with some local stamp collectors, Warren decided to form a stamp club. In December 1961, the Club held its first meeting with 52 charter members at the Westfield YMCA, and became known as “the Westfield YMCA Stamp Club.” When the club’s meeting place was moved to the Westfield Township community room in the Municipal building, the name was changed to the present “Westfield Stamp Club.” At the Westfield Stamp Club’s annual Show and Exhibition, Warren would sit at the Greeting Table, where he would greet and eagerly encourage show visitors to vote for their favorite exhibit. He was so enthusiastic about the most popular exhibit award that the Club Officers and Board of Governors rechristened it “The Warren Scheller Most Popular Award.” During the Club’s first bus trip to the American Philatelic Center, Warren enjoyed time in the Circuits Department where he searched for items for his stamp want list. Having been a member of APS for over 50 years, it was an important visit for Warren.
Warren was Westfield Stamp Club member Number One, and served on the Board of Governors. With his passing in October of 2014, the Club named him Honorary Governor. Warren will always be remembered for founding the Westfield Stamp Club, his enthusiasm and contributions to the Club Shows and Exhibits, his kindness, and dedication to stamp collecting.
Rev. Charles "Charlie" M. Fitz (1925–2007)
2010 Inductee
The Rev. Charles Fitz was born in Philadelphia and lived his entire life in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was an accredited judge for both the APS and the ATA, the American Topical Association. For many years he served as the exhibits chairman for the New York ASDA Stamp Shows. He was a devoted volunteer of our annual NOJEX stamp show.
“Charlie”, as he was called by everyone, loved life and relished every moment of it. He did everything with total commitment, enthusiasm, dedication and humor, and he spread these virtues wherever he went. His love for stamp collecting was instilled by his mother introducing him to the 1930’s radio program “Capt Tim Healy’s Ivory Stamp Club of the Air”. He won his first stamp exhibit medal at age 14, and by 1959, his collection “The Life of St. Paul” won a grand award.
Charlie was active in the Westfield Stamp Club for more than 30 years. In the 1970’s, most stamp collectors were traditional collectors, collecting a particular country or two, or collecting specific issues of a given country. But Charlie was one of a group of “young turks” who was popularizing a different view of stamp collecting and exhibiting—instead of collecting in the traditional way, they chose to collect an idea, or a topic or a theme and express it through their stamp collections and exhibits. Charlie decided to develop a new thematic exhibit. You might ask, “What topic did he choose?” Given his status as a Christian minister, an exhibit on the Life of Christ or one on Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples of the World might seem most appropriate. But Charlie wanted to make a splash with his exhibit from the very beginning, and decided to develop a new exhibit on a new topic—Philately and Murder. He became infamous as the minister who collected murder. He loved being introduced to stamp collectors—the inevitable first question is always, “What do you collect?” With a smile and a sparkle in his eyes, he would loudly declare, “MURDER!”, and then relish the dismay of the questioner, who was totally confused by the thought of a minister who collected murder.
One of his most ingenious pages was the one on the author Agatha Christie. She wrote many exceptional mystery novels, and countries have honored her with numerous stamps. Examples of these might have satisfied some, but Charlie looked to think “out of the box” as we say today. One of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels is “Murder on the Orient Express”. The Orient Express was one of the premier trains in the 1920’s and the 1930’s. It traveled daily from Paris to Istanbul. What most people don’t know is that it also carried mail. For mail posted on the train they created special Orient Express Labels to designate this service and to be used in addition to the proper postage. There are very few of these letters that survive, but Charlie had a great one on his Christie page—an Orient Express letter with this rare and seldom-seen label.
His exhibit on Philately and Murder did exceptionally well in National and International exhibits, ultimately taking the Grand Award at the American Topical Association’s annual show.
Charlie moved to Pennsylvania and illness caused him to withdraw from daily life. His infective enthusiasm and willingness to work hard did much to promote philately for all. He had a wonderful way of encouraging and teaching new exhibitors in philately, and always found time for them.
—Edited from remarks by Edward J.J. Grabowski presented at Charlie’s memorial service.
Elliot Perry (1884–1972)
2010 Inductee
The Rev. Charles Fitz was born in Philadelphia and lived his entire life in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was an accredited judge for both the APS and the ATA, the American Topical Association. For many years he served as the exhibits chairman for the New York ASDA Stamp Shows. He was a devoted volunteer of our annual NOJEX stamp show.
“Charlie”, as he was called by everyone, loved life and relished every moment of it. He did everything with total commitment, enthusiasm, dedication and humor, and he spread these virtues wherever he went. His love for stamp collecting was instilled by his mother introducing him to the 1930’s radio program “Capt Tim Healy’s Ivory Stamp Club of the Air”. He won his first stamp exhibit medal at age 14, and by 1959, his collection “The Life of St. Paul” won a grand award.
Charlie was active in the Westfield Stamp Club for more than 30 years. In the 1970’s, most stamp collectors were traditional collectors, collecting a particular country or two, or collecting specific issues of a given country. But Charlie was one of a group of “young turks” who was popularizing a different view of stamp collecting and exhibiting—instead of collecting in the traditional way, they chose to collect an idea, or a topic or a theme and express it through their stamp collections and exhibits. Charlie decided to develop a new thematic exhibit. You might ask, “What topic did he choose?” Given his status as a Christian minister, an exhibit on the Life of Christ or one on Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples of the World might seem most appropriate. But Charlie wanted to make a splash with his exhibit from the very beginning, and decided to develop a new exhibit on a new topic—Philately and Murder. He became infamous as the minister who collected murder. He loved being introduced to stamp collectors—the inevitable first question is always, “What do you collect?” With a smile and a sparkle in his eyes, he would loudly declare, “MURDER!”, and then relish the dismay of the questioner, who was totally confused by the thought of a minister who collected murder.
One of his most ingenious pages was the one on the author Agatha Christie. She wrote many exceptional mystery novels, and countries have honored her with numerous stamps. Examples of these might have satisfied some, but Charlie looked to think “out of the box” as we say today. One of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels is “Murder on the Orient Express”. The Orient Express was one of the premier trains in the 1920’s and the 1930’s. It traveled daily from Paris to Istanbul. What most people don’t know is that it also carried mail. For mail posted on the train they created special Orient Express Labels to designate this service and to be used in addition to the proper postage. There are very few of these letters that survive, but Charlie had a great one on his Christie page—an Orient Express letter with this rare and seldom-seen label.
His exhibit on Philately and Murder did exceptionally well in National and International exhibits, ultimately taking the Grand Award at the American Topical Association’s annual show.
Charlie moved to Pennsylvania and illness caused him to withdraw from daily life. His infective enthusiasm and willingness to work hard did much to promote philately for all. He had a wonderful way of encouraging and teaching new exhibitors in philately, and always found time for them.
—Edited from remarks by Edward J.J. Grabowski presented at Charlie’s memorial service.
A. Vincent Samuelson (1915–1994)
2010 Inductee
For more than 20 years, almost every auction held at each meeting of the Westfield Stamp Club was called by “Vince” Samuelson. Vince was the soul of our club, offering everyone a warm and welcoming smile, and taking a personal interest in making sure new members and guests would be easily integrated into our midst.
As a boy, Vince would often bring home as many as six library books at one time to read. In later years he was nicknamed “The Encyclopedia” by his family. To us, the members the Westfield Stamp Club, he was definitely “Our philatelic Encyclopedia”. At every club meeting, members would bring questions and puzzles to Vince, so that he could help them gain philatelic knowledge.
He retired in 1980 as merchandising manager of the Dixon Pencil Company, and he was able to go to his love of stamp collecting, and devote more time to Westfield Stamp Club, a club he helped to organize. At the time of his death, his prize winning exhibit on Charles A. Lindbergh, especially covers flown by Lindbergh, was published by the American Air Mail Society.
He was well known in his home town of Fanwood, where he lived with his beloved wife Ruth for nearly a half-century.
The annual Westfield Stamp Show award, called “The Vince,” lovingly honors Vince’s memory. He was a true Champion of our hobby.
Sidney Schneider (1915–1981)
2010 Inductee
“Sid” Schneider was one of New Jersey’s leading philatelists. His very sudden death on January 30, 1981, left a gigantic void in our hobby. He was scheduled to retire from his career position as a senior Chemist at Exxon’s Bayway plant, just two days later on February 1. At the time of his passing he was in his 16th year as President of NOJEX. Known throughout US Philatelic Community as “Mr. NOJEX,” he carefully nurtured the show as it grew in stature and importance. The number of clubs in the North Jersey Federation more than doubled during his administration
He was a very active accredited APS Judge, giving of his time and expertise to APS shows throughout the USA. He served as an apprentice International Judge at ESPANA ’75 in Madrid. At the time of his death, he was serving his fifth year as President of the American Philatelic Congress.
He loved postal history, and was also a very active member of the Postal History Society for many years. He held the office of Vice-President when the shocking news of his death rippled through the American philatelic community.
He had many collecting interests; his favorite collecting area was that of the 1869 issue on cover. He received international recognition for his 1869’s at NORWEX, the international exhibition at Oslo, Norway in 1980. He was an active member of the Collectors Club and the Royal Philatelic Society of London, and most important, his own Westfield Stamp Club.
Writing in the 1981 Congress Book, Frank C. Reed talks about the many people in organized philately who “felt Sid’s challenge—always positive, always productive, always rewarding. A quick, perceptive insight was his trademark.”
The dedication of the 1981 Congress Book in memory and honor of Sid concludes: “All those he touched treasure his incisive comments and have grown because of them. The number of people he helped must indeed be larger than Sidney realized—perhaps as many as he hoped.”