2019 Gala spotlight: Sonny Hagendorf
Sonny Hagendorf has been a professional philatelist for more than 40 years.
Early in his career, he reasoned that advanced collectors would welcome the guidance of a knowledgeable professional to help them build a collection of both value and significance. Maintaining close working relationships with collectors and important dealers around the globe has been a benchmark of his success, while his keen knowledge of stamp values have helped him to purchase, sell, or broker some of the world’s rarest stamps in the quest to help his exclusive clientele build award-winning collections. With the exception of auction houses, Sonny has handled more Inverted Jennys (the upside-down airplane) than any dealer since the stamp’s discovery in 1918.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Sonny has always possessed a strong philanthropic sense, placing value on volunteering in both his local and professional communities. Here in Westchester, Sonny serves on the board of the New Rochelle Scholarship Fund and is a board member Emeritus of the Fund for Educational Excellence, after actively serving on the board from 1998-2010. He has also been a volunteer consultant to the Philatelic Foundation in New York; is a member of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists, where he served on the Collection Committee charged with helping to create the National Collection; and serves on the Smithsonian New York Regional Host Committee.
Sonny lives with Kathy, his wife of 40 years and board member of The Guidance Center, in New Rochelle. They have two amazing children, Colin and Emma. One of his hobbies is collecting and drinking fine wines, sharing them with friends and family, often accompanied by Kathy’s famous cooking!
We applaud Sonny for his commitment to helping The Guidance Center of Westchester's program participants.
We'll honor Sonny along with Dawna Michelle Filed and GEM Management Partners LLC (George, Edward, and Michael Nukho) at our May 14 Gala at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.
Visit us again when we shine the spotlight on our other honorees.