Dr. Charles Radford Stearns, a member of the ANA Board of Governors, died on Aug. 31 after a long illness. He was 67 years old.

“We have all lost a special person and dedicated numismatist,” said ANA President Barry Stuppler. “As a board member I was able to see his passion for helping the ANA provide better services and educational programs for its membership. Our board and the entire numismatic community will sincerely miss him.”

Radford Stearns was born in Evanston, Ill. in 1940. He attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery (Loyola) in 1967. He served as a Naval Officer in Albany, GA from 1967-1969, and practiced dentistry in Lilburn, Ga. until his retirement in 2006. In his time away from dentistry and numismatics, he enjoyed adventure travel, scuba diving, wildlife photography and the Georgia Aquarium; he also supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Lilburn Relay for Life.

A prolific exhibitor and collector of Georgia Colonial paper money, Dr. Stearns is a former winner of the ANA Howland Wood Best in Show exhibit award. He also was a collector of Russian money. He was an exhibitor at shows across the country, including conventions held by the Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) and Florida United Numismatists (FUN).

Stearns received the ANA Good Fellowship Award in 1987 for serving as General Chairman of the Association’s 96th anniversary convention in Atlanta; he served at various ANA conventions as Assistant General Chair, Educational Forum Chair and Exhibit Chair.

Stearns was elected to the ANA Board of Governors in 2007; as Governor he was co-chair of the Educational Committee. He conducted numerous educational programs for the ANA, CSNS, FUN, and other organizations. Stearns served in many capacities for the Georgia Numismatic Association and Blue Ridge Numismatic Association, and was appointed by President Gerald Ford to the United States Assay Commission.

The ANA presented Stearns with the Glenn Smedley Memorial Award in 2004 and two Presidential Awards in 1995. Numismatic News bestowed its coveted Ambassador Award to him in 1988.

“Radford Stearns was a fine man and a great asset for our Association,” said ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd. “His knowledge, leadership and passion for numismatics will be deeply missed.”

Stearns is survived by his wife of 42 years Mary Lucy (Franzman), his children Katherine Radford Stearns, Kristine Radford Lively (Ty), Thomas Radford Stearns and Ana Silva; his cousins John Cutler (Marilyn), Katrina Chandler (Howie), Jon Veeder (Sally), Robin Dailey (Jim), Paul Seng (Helen) and Jeanne Cuttita (Peter); his brother-in-law Father Thomas Franzman; and his mother-in-law Margaret Taylor Franzman.

Donations in his memory may be mailed to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society of Georgia:
Rachel Benson
GA Chapter LLS
3715 Northside Pkwy.
Bldg. 400, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30327
(678) 279-2017