Charles Peter Scanlan

Scanlan, Charles Peter, 70, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2012, at the St. Peter's Hospice Inn after a struggle with cancer and heart disease. He was born September 7, 1941 in Montague, Massachusetts to the late Charles M. Scanlan and Vivian Ray Scanlan. He resided in the Albany area with his sister, Lee Cameron, and brother-in-law, Jim Cameron, for over 30 years.

He was an antiques dealer with expertise in such wide-ranging areas as firearms, Americana, autographs, vintage photography, antiquarian books and politics. He was associated with Dennis Holzman Antiques for many years. He was a nationally known authority on Theodore Roosevelt and was appointed in 1998 to a state committee to plan the centennial of Roosevelt's governorship. Personally, he collected the country's finest private library of Theodore Roosevelt books and ephemera. Theodore Roosevelt was his hero and his life's passion. He was a member of the American Political Items Collectors and the Theodore Roosevelt Association. A fixture at APIC shows around the country, PaperMania, the Ephemera Society Show, Albany Book Fair and TRA meetings.

After attending the University of Florida, he traveled throughout the world, crossing the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan and driving vintage Bentleys in Europe. While abroad, he spent considerable time maintaining yachts and teaching in Majorca, Spain and as an ambulance driver in the rugged mining regions of Australia. He managed a construction company in Florida, the famous Bookbinders Restaurant in Philadelphia during the 1976 Bicentennial, and an inn and restaurant in New Hampshire. For many years he participated in the fall harvest in northern California.

Peter was a great raconteur, who was never short of a story or sage advice. He was a sophisticated gourmand and the most delightful dinner companion one could hope for. He was opinionated, witty, intelligent and informed. When he argued, he did so passionately and irreverently. He was well known to most of the staff of the best restaurants and taverns in Albany. He was a lover of baseball, cinema, vintage books and politics. His life was rich with deep friendships of all ages, all walks of life, and from around the globe. It was a life most extraordinary. He did, as Theodore Roosevelt wrote, "warmed both hands before the fire of life."

He was predeceased by his sister, Lee Cameron, and his nephew, Adam Cameron. He is survived by his sister, Frankie Merrill of Venice, Florida, brother in law James Cameron of Guilderland, his niece Paige Cameron of Troy, and a host of friends locally and across the globe.

Calling hours will be at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, from 1-3 pm on Saturday, February 11, with a memorial service to follow at 3 pm. Interment will precede the calling hours, at 10 AM, Saturday, February 11, at Albany Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Prevent Child Abuse New York at 33 Elk St, Albany 12207 or Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Avenue, Menands NY 12204.