The Drexel Hill man who auctioned off Veterans Stadium souvenirs is being remembered this week.
Born in Upper Darby and raised in Drexel Hill and Havertown, Stephen E. Comly Sr. directed more than 35,000 auctions and 123,000 appraisals. He died March 6 at 70, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mr. Comly was the former president and auction chanter for Comly Auctioneers & Appraisers.
He was the onetime president of the Certified Auctioneers Institute and the Industrial Auctioneers Association.
Those who knew the affable Stephen Comly Sr. said he could sell anything and everything at auction.
“Anything that can be sold today can be sold at auction,” Mr. Comly told the Daily News in 1998. “The perception of auctions being associated with deaths and bankruptcies, or limited to selling antiques and art, is a false image.”
He joined the family business out of college in 1977, and went on to handle personal collections, corporate liquidations, charity fundraiser, and more.
In 2004, Mr. Comly was auctioneer for the 10-hour Phillies’ Final Pieces sale of team memorabilia and Veterans Stadium souvenirs.
He handled the sale of 200 items, including Mike Schmidt’s old locker, that raised $241,350 for Phillies Charities.
Read more about the life of Stephen E. Comly Sr.. in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
