MERRICK, N.Y. – Just prior to press time this past Monday, Antiques and The Arts Weekly learned of the passing of Long Island antiques show promoter Elias Pekale, who died on Friday, April 21, after a brief illness. A well attended memorial service took place on the morning of April 24, at Gutterman’s Funeral Home in Rockville Centre.

A well respected manager of a host of local shows on Long Island, Elias had been promoting events for the past 25 years. “Quality Antique Shows and Antiques at an Affordable Cost” was Elias’ motto and something he abided by since hosting his first show in 1978. Regarded as one of the “early” promoters in the region, his stable of well attended shows had grown to 15 in past years. Some of his shows included the Antiques Marketplace in Huntington that took place in January, two annual shows in Cold Spring Harbor that benefited the Cold Spring Fire Department, the Smithtown Historical Society Show, and Antiques in the Churchyard.

Elias Pekale Shows also promoted several large street fairs including the popular Roslyn Antiques Street fair and the Great Neck Antiques Show, each of which featured upwards of 125 dealers.

Elias is survived by his wife Sheila and a daughter, who will reportedly be assuming the responsibilities of the show schedule.