:Frank H. Boos, 70, president of the Frank H. Boos Gallery in Troy
and known for the colorful collection of bow ties he wore on the
PBS television show Antiques Roadshow, died on May 9. He
was born June 13, 1935, in Detroit and grew up in Grosse Pointe
Farms and graduated from the then-Detroit University School and
Trinity College.
He had been in the appraisal and auction business for more than
45 years and built a leading regional auction house based on
quality, professionalism and excellence. He was one of the
original cast members of Antiques Roadshow, which embarked
on its first US tour in 1996, and traveled city to city, offering
appraisals on thousands of items - valuable or not - that people
brought to the show.
Boos was connected with the appraisal and/or dispersal of most of
the famous collections in the area, including: Robert Hudson
Tannahill, whose collection is now housed at the Detroit
Institute of Arts; Charles Gershenson, the real estate magnate
whose collection set world records for Americana; Alfred Glancy,
who once owned the Empire State Building; and Elizabeth Eddy, a
descendant of the Mayflower, whose auction proceeds were donated
to charity.
He also handled the collection of the late Minoru and Teruko
Yamasaki. Minoru Yamasaki was an internationally renowned
architect who left a legacy of at least 175 projects, one being
the World Trade Center in New York City. Boos was chosen to
disperse the world famous Elsholz glass collection about which
books have been written. He also handled the estate of Jess
Pavey, a respected and well-known collector of and advisor on
period Americana.
He was the retained appraiser of all of the art and objets d'art
belonging to the world famous Cranbrook Institutions, which took
him five years to appraise and document. Boos was also the first
US agent for Christie's in the conducting of the Anna Thomson
Dodge auction held at her home, "Rose Terrace," in Grosse Pointe
Farms in 1970, which was Christie's first sale in the Western
Hemisphere. He was also the retained appraiser for the entire
oeuvre of the renowned sculptor Marshall Fredericks. He also
handled the sale of the part of Fredericks' estate that came to
public market.
Boos also conducted about 150 estate and other appraisals per
year for numerous museums and law firms, as well as all the major
banks in Michigan.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy, four children: Jonathan,
Christopher, Kristina and Alexandra Stephenson, and five
grandchildren.
Services took place May 13 in Royal Oak, where longtime friends
honored his memory by wearing bow ties. Memorials may be sent to
Beaumont Hospice, 3601 West 13 Mile, Royal Oak MI 48073.
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