Danny literally grew up in the industrial ball bearing and chain industry.
Over time Danny became a family historian, philanthropist, a collector, and more serious student in all the above.
Fueled by his life experiences, education, travels, and extensive network of friends, business associates, and family, he refers to himself as “a collector of people and things.” His passions include stamps, coins and paper money, comic books, sports cards, Hot Wheels, and cartoon animation cells. In his younger school years (1978 – 1982) he worked for Minkus Stamp Company at its Marshall Field’s Department Stores in Illinois. For many years, Danny’s motto was to learn a little bit about a lot of collectibles. But Danny’s world of collecting changed dramatically in 2007.
When his 3rd-generation family business was reluctantly sold at the young age of 47, by chance he stumbled upon a rare WWII postal history exhibit, a study of the Holocaust told through letters and other related documents. Arguably the world’s largest private exhibit of philatelic (stamps & postal history) material about the Holocaust, Danny purchased the material in 2007 and has since donated the majority of the material to the Spungen Family Foundation, of which he is a trustee.
A “student for life,” Danny now brings the Holocaust artifacts collection around the world, describing the complete breakdown in humanity that led to the murder and deaths of more than 60 million people during World War II, and emphasizing the artifacts themselves as “witnesses” to the Holocaust. These witnesses and their stories must be kept alive for future generations.
Danny is a docent at the Illinois Holocaust Museum; board member of CANDLES Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana; board member of the Sino-Judaic Institute, advocate for the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum; and an active member of the Association of Holocaust Organizations.
He and his wife Natalie raised two children and had 11 Rotary International High School Exchange Students. One student from Thailand extended his one-year stay for 11 years 7 months! Danny and Natalie are very fortunate their family continues to grow!
