Submitted by The Family
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Dana Eller Tillou, 89, passed away peacefully at home on May 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Dana will be remembered as a kind, humorous and deeply social man whose curiosity and genuine love of people made every conversation meaningful. His legacy is one of love, laughter and a life well lived. Longtime readers will remember him for the meaningful contributions he made to the antiques and arts field as a dealer at some of the country’s most esteemed shows and through his longtime gallery in Buffalo, Dana Tillou Fine Arts. Before he closed his gallery in 2020, he was the go-to source in Western New York for Nineteenth and Twentieth Century antiques and art.
Born in Buffalo on April 13, 1937, to artist Virginia Eller Tillou and Manley Tillou, Dana was a lifelong resident of the city he loved and a deeply respected member of its cultural and social community. He was a devoted supporter of the Burchfield Penney Art Center, served on the board of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, was active in Westminster Presbyterian Church and was a longtime member of the Queen City Jazz Club.
Dana Tillou at left, was a staple at The Winter Show along with his brother, Peter, and the Tillou family. Antiques and The Arts Weekly photo, 2021.
For 65 years, he owned and operated Dana Tillou Fine Arts where his keen eye, integrity and deep knowledge earned him the admiration of the antiques and art communities. A quiet philanthropist and avid sportsman, he enjoyed golf, tennis, sailing and skiing, and was a longtime member of the Buffalo Canoe Club and Cherry Hill Golf Club.
Dana is survived by his wife, Catherine (née Steele) Tillou; his daughters, Amy (Jeff) Parks, Sarah Tillou and Michelle (Margaret Goñi) Tillou; and his beloved grandchildren, Taylor Parks, Spencer Parks, Abigail Parks, Río Steele Goñi-Tillou and Félix Sol Goñi-Tillou. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
In Remembrance
Dana Tillou was truly a gentleman and a scholar. We knew him and his wife for decades, and his knowledge and courtesy for answering questions about his inventory at antiques shows was extraordinary — but it was his friendship that meant a lot to us and to everyone he knew, collectors, auctioneers, etc.
The world of antiques has lost a giant and we should all thank him and his wife for their many conversations and sales, often at antiques shows I wrote about. No question was too small and all antiques from them, especially artwork, were always the best.
Thank you, Catherine and your family. Carry on as best you can.
—Fran Kramer
