Longtime Linn’s Stamp News columnist Les Winick has died at the age of 87 in Galesburg, Illinois. The local paper in its obituary says “his passion became promoting the hobby of stamp collecting.”
Many collectors remember him as the executive director of Ameripex ’86, the very successful “international” stamp show in Chicago.
Although we corresponded a few times, I’m afraid I only met him once, briefly. If you knew him, or even if your memories of Les are only through his writing and other philatelic work, please take a moment to share your thoughts here.
Les Winick, along with Ben Rankissoon can rightly be called the fathers of Astrophilately in the United States. Les brought his considerable knowledge and passion to Space Unit. He worked with postal authorities to ferret out fakes and forgeries while representing SU to the American Philatelic Society and the greater world. His column in Linn’s ran for years and illuminated thousands of collectors. For all he accomplished in his own right and did for us, “Thank you”.
David S. Ball RPSL:
US Astrophilatelic Rep
International Federation of Philately
Today, June 13, 2015, I looked up Les on the internet as I have not heard from him for some time. I had no idea he had passeed away.and am saddened to learn about it as we met many years ago (in the 1970s) when we were all collecting space covers and were members of the ATA Space Unit. A group of collectors from Illinois and Wisconsin would occasionally get together.
I knew Les Winick only thru Linn’s Stamp News publication. His insights about various stamp topics were interesting and with a sense of humor. He will be missed.