Where do I begin? What can I say? I’m totally numb and deeply saddened by the loss of the man who raised me, schooled me, taught me how to throw a baseball and squeeze hard when you shake someone’s hand. The man who taught me to root for UCLA and the Dodgers back in the days of Lew Alcinder and Sandy Koufax. The man who was my boss in the coin and antiquity business as well as my mentor and best friend. God how I will miss you.

My dad wore many hats, all of which he wore with great valor. Let me tell you now a little something about the man I called dad!

My dad was a captain in the United States Air Force, and darn proud of it! As a child I remember how he would come into my bedroom to wake me and my sister Lisa up for school all the while whistling an Air Force bugle tune he remembered was used to wake up the troops while in the service. I now recall going along with that for quite some time but also recall telling him that saluting him as well was not going to happen. A man of intimidating stature and formidable strength as seen through the eyes of a young kid growing up with his family in Venice California.

My dad the teacher! A born teacher who truly loved to educate anyone and everyone he came in contact with. He began his professional career as a History and English teacher at Webster Junior High school in west Los Angeles. His teaching didn’t stop when he left school. He was always there to help me at night with my studies. After I would finish my school assignment he would often continue the learning process with additional homework. Great, I had excellent help with my homework, but double the work! I also recall one time when I had to testify in a downtown court room as an "expert witness". While being sworn in the Judge heard my name and asked me if I was related to Joel Malter. I proudly told him that he was my father. He quickly came back and said that he had him as a history teacher at Webster and said that he as one of the best teachers he ever had! This brought a great sense of relief and pride to me sitting on the witness stand as I really did not know where he was going with his question.

My dad the collector and businessman. As a collector, he saw it, he liked it, he bought it. He was addicted to collecting. He collected everything imaginable and had an eye for perfection as he only collected the best. He and my mom were regulars at antique and collectible shows, going anywhere he could to satisfy his quest for knowledge and items to add to his collections. He loved and thrived on this constant search for something different and important. I never inherited what he called the "collecting gene" and found it hard to understand what was so special about forming collections of everything under the sun. Over time I realized that the answer was quite simple, collecting made him immensely happy, very happy. At the same time he was teaching, he was also collecting ancient coins and other items of interest. My sister Debbie now came on the scene in 1961. (Debbie, don’t be mad at me for disclosing your age). A large family required a change in occupations. He now took a huge chance if his young life and ventured away from teaching and to start his own company that dealt with his love of history and coins. Joel L. Malter and Company was born with its world headquarters in the garage of his Venice home. They say that timing is everything and my dad had just that touch. When he got into the coin business in the early 1960's there was a plethora of coins and collectors and little competition. He soon learned the tricks of the trade and turned what started out as a one man coin business into one of the largest and most successful firms of its type in the world by the 1980s’. My timing wasn’t bad either. As my dad ventured into the 1980's I was just entering the business world from college and his invitation to form a family business was too good to turn down. My sister Debbie later joined the business and together the 3 of us along will assorted fine help worked very hard and diligently selling coins and other collectibles to buyers worldwide. Over the 30 years of working with my dad we had our ups and downs. Sort of like a marriage I guess. If you’ve ever worked with a relative you know that it’s not easy. My dad was not the easiest guy to work with or for. It was usually his way or the highway. Many a time we had our disagreements. Sometimes it got quite heated, but, we always reconciled with a firm handshake and a smile. My dad finally retired in 1996 turning the business over to me. The business climate at this time was not nearly as good as the 70's and 80's. My dad knew this and even though he was officially retired, he continued to do whatever it took to help me and the business prosper. This was true until the last day of his life as he sat by me as we auctioned his treasured library to buyer’s worldwide. Thankfully he was able to witness the incredible record prices his books sold for only to pass away early the next morning.

Lastly and most importantly my dad was a family man who loved his kids and grandchildren and most of all, worshiped my mom. Married to my mom for almost 54 years, their marriage was that of a fairy tale Together they traveled all over the world to more countries than I could name. Whatever my mom wanted, my dad bought her. The last 17 years of his life they lived in a beautiful home and in an area which he so much loved and adored. I am so thankful for that. I will truly miss the most important man in my life and only I hope that my son Josh and I can have an equally loving and wonderful lifelong friendship.

DAD,

I hope you give me an "A" on this!!!!

By Debby Poe

I started working for my father over 22 years ago. What started as a temporary position when I was in between jobs, ended up turning into nearly a 22 year long career.

My father welcomed me with open arms and quickly assigned me to numerous tasks. From decorating his showcases to organizing his extensive library, my father continually inspired me with his intense enthusiasm and passion for his ancient coin and antiquity business.

After working for my father for a couple of weeks, I realized that I didn’t want to leave. I loved working for my father. His gallery was filled with positive energy and every day was a new adventure. I felt a sense of freedom that I had never experienced with my previous jobs. My father would give me an assignment, explain it to me once, and trusted that I would complete the task. If I asked him to explain it to me again, he always took the time. He wanted me to completely understand and enjoy what I was doing. He was an amazing teacher and boss.

I loved watching my father negotiate with the various collectors and dealers that would visit our gallery daily. He had an incredible ability to work with several different people and different deals at once. He treated everyone who passed through his doors with respect. He always had a lesson to teach. No one could work the room like my dad.

My father was an expert in the field of ancient coins and antiquities. His passion for history and his natural talent for teaching enabled my father to become the successful businessman that he was. He was an entrepreneur. The man with the plan! It didn’t matter how hard or how much work there was to be completed. He worked diligently until he achieved his goals or until the job was done. My father always said, “The job was not done until it was done right”.

My father always looked for the positive qualities in a person. He was an incredibly trusting man who continually gave people the benefit of the doubt. He believed in second chances and saw the glass half full, not half empty.

I was so lucky to have had so many years working with my father, my boss, my friend. The man that everyone looked toward for advice and guidance. The man with a tremendous amount of courage, honor and dignity. The man with so much passion for his second greatest love, “the love for ancient art”. His first love and deepest love was the love he held so sacred, “the love for my mother, Adele.

Dad, you are in my heart and soul. I will wake up every morning thinking about you and go to sleep every night missing you but you will be a part of me and everyone else who held you dear forever.

I will love you forever,

Debby