PAUL WISHNOW
1934-2017
Paul Frank Wishnow was born August 31, 1934 in Houston, TX. Paul was a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science Degree and held a Life Professional Texas Teacher’s Certificate.
He entered the U.S. Army Reserves in 1957 and served for four years and had his own radio show during that time as a disc jockey playing the music of the day.
Always known as “The Antique Man”, he had been involved with the sale, design, repair, manufacture and restoration of household, commercial and antique furniture since 1944. His background in home furnishings, art objects, antiques, carpeting, silver, crystal, china and personal effects had given him the ability to approach these areas with a qualified expertise. He assumed controlling interest in January, 1958 of the family business of Wishnow Furniture and Antiques, founded in 1922. It was considered the oldest antique shop in the area..
In 1974 he established Furniture Appraisal Service of Texas, an independent fee appraisal company, establishing restoration costs, actual or fair market values for personal property, antiques, residential contents and decorative art.
He was an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers, Houston Chapter, and served as their President from 2007-2008 He was also an Associate Member of the International Society of Appraisers, and was President of the Houston Chapter for the year 1984-85. He was President of the Texas Upholsterers’ Association for many years and was affiliated with many Civic, International and Professional groups.
In 2000, Paul was voted Best of Houston Appraiser from the Houston Press. He was a fixture at the Houston Home and Garden shows as well as a variety of other places in the Houston area to give an Opinion of Value on antiques and collectibles. People would line up to listen to what he had to say whether their item was “Trash or Treasure” and trusted his knowledgeable expertise at these shows. Whenever the American Roadshow came through town, they would call Paul to help find appraisers.
He had his own radio show on KPRC 950, KBME 790 and later, KNTH 1030, which he hosted every Sunday morning for two hours. He would deliver a wealth of information without even seeing the items of interest to his caller. When his theme song, “The Entertainer” played, his listeners knew they were in for a treat with his quick wit and sharp mind of knowing almost everything about collectibles and antiques. At the age of 78, he retired from the radio show and the appraisal business.
Although, he was known as being The Antique Man, Paul was also an avid sportsmen. He was the pitcher for his Slow Pitch team for many, years as well as participating in his bowling league, his Sunday tennis matches with Newton Schwartz and Marvin Zindler, and his monthly Wednesday night Poker.
He was predeceased by his brother, Harry Wishnow, and is survived by his brothers Bernard Wishnow, and his wife Rosemary, Dr. Irv Wishnow, and his wife, Marcia, and sister-in-law, Bess Wishnow. Paul is survived by his children, Nikie Wishnow and her husband, Doug Wyrwich, Stacey Iacono and her husband Daniel, Mark Wishnow and Ericka Grabowski, his grandchildren, Drew, Rayne, Kayla, Emma, Livia, Addison and Ty. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 1037 N. Post Oak Rd.