– Harlan “Hal” Bornstein, 75, passed away peacefully at noontime on Thursday, August 28, at the Salem Hospital, Salem, Mass., after a lengthy illness. He was well known in the antiques business for more than 35 years and was respected by all. He founded and promoted the Yankee Doodle Drummer Antique Shows at The Northeast Trade Center, Woburn, Mass.
He was a devoted father to his children, son Eric and his wife Toni, daughter Robin, and son David and his wife Julie, and his first grandchild, William Andrew, born April 20 to David and Julie. He also leaves his former wife, Bernice Bornstein. Eric and his wife expect a son in October, and he had been looking forward to his first son having his second grandchild.
Born in Boston, the son of William and Edna Bornstein, he graduated from Roxbury High School and attended Northeastern University.
In his earlier years he worked with his father as a men’s clothing salesman for Peter’s Sportswear of New York and after his father’s death he left men’s clothing and founded in 1976 the Yankee Doodle Drummer Shows at the North East Trade Center in Woburn and throughout New England. The shows featured hundreds of specialized dealers selling antiques and collectibles. He organized the shows and his former wife Bernice managed them. He was a well-known antiques dealer at the Cambridge Antiques Market in Cambridge and a radio personality featured on the Jerry Williams show giving antiques appraisals.
He was Korean Army Veteran, a member of the Winthrop Masonic Lodge and the Massachusetts Consistory. He was a member Temple Beth Shalom in Peabody.
Hal Bornstein also leaves a sister, Helaine and her husband Harvey Cotton; a niece, Elyse and her husband Matthew Carious and their children, Heather and Julia.
Funeral services were conducted on Sunday, August 31, at Stanetsky/Hymanson Funeral Home in Vinnin Street, Salem; the Shiva memorial observance was conducted at 8 Philip Avenue, Peabody, through Tuesday September 2. Contributions may be sent to either the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Association.