Frank and Nancy Berger estate sale offers bounty of local artifacts, antiques
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Rob Klino, left, and Gary Berger stand next to a wall filled with a collection of butter pat holders in the home of Berger’s parents, the late Frank and Nancy Berger. Klino will have an estate sale there on April 9 through 12.
Provided photo: Nancy and Frank Berger were long-time local leaders in Medina.
MEDINA – When Rob Klino goes to work, he isn’t punching your average “nine to five” timeclock. He’s embarking on a journey into the lives of those he serves.
Klino is a collector and an antique dealer whose profession is conducting estate sales. When he takes on a job to dispose of someone’s estate, he is delving into their most prized possessions – what their interests were, what they cherished, and often “what made them tick.”
Klino is a Medina native who grew up here, went to college and in his 20s, decided to move to Atlanta to escape the snow.
His love of antiques actually began while he was in high school and baby sat for a prominent family who loved to go antiquing. He would often go with them on short trips and witness them buying and selling antiques. As a teenager, he wanted designer jeans for school, but his mother wouldn’t spend the money, so he started buying and selling pieces in order to buy his own jeans. Soon he was buying art and pottery, and the foundation for his next profession was set.
In spent 23 years in Atlanta, working in human resources and software development. Then a desire to be near his family prompted his return to Medina in 2018. Shortly after, he opened Thistle Ridge Antiques on Main Street.
He remembers clearly his first estate sale – that of Tim and Maura Pierce on the corner of West Center and Ohio streets.
“I am very selective about the estate sales I do,” Klino said.
This is some of the collection in the estate of Frank and Nancy Berger which will be sold at a sale April 9 through 12.
His largest estate sale was that of a local doctor, but an upcoming estate sale April 9 through 12 has tugged at his heartstrings.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have been chosen by the family of Frank and Nancy Berger to host their estate sale,” Klino said. “I have often referred to Nancy and Frank and ‘Mr. and Mrs. Medina.’ Their sale is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a piece of Medina memorabilia to remember them by.”
The Berger’s lived at 3626 North Gravel Rd., where they built their home in 1959, and filled it with memorabilia. There, they raised two sons, Gary and Brian.
“Both my parents were big in history,” Gary said. “My dad was a big supporter of veterans and was active in the American Legion. He spent his whole life in Scouting.”
Rob Klino, who will have an estate sale at the home of the late Frank and Nancy Berger, holds a Pack 14 flag, which is part of a massive collection of Boy Scout memorabilia which will be sold.
Frank served in the U.S. Navy, spent 30 years as an industrial arts teacher at Medina High School and continued to serve several terms as president in the Retired Teachers’ Association. He was commander of the Butts-Clark American Legion Post, head of Medina’s Memorial Day parade for more than 40 years, a longtime Mason, a founding member of Medina Historical Society and a county legislator for 14 years. He was named “Medina Citizen of the Year” in 1972 and 1999.
Nancy no doubt inherited her love of antiques from her father, with whom she would go antiquing. Gary remembers going with them as a child. She was employed as a medical secretary for several area physicians, and in 1981, she opened The Personal Touch, primarily a fabric store, in Medina.
When that closed in 1999, she continued to run a Christmas shop at her home. She became passionate about Mid Eastern dancing, which she taught for eight years. Nancy also became involved in Scouting as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, earning their highest achievement – the Silver Beaver Award.
In March 1986, the Bergers became the first couple to receive Medina Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award.
Nancy died at 3:30 a.m. Sept. 27, 2015, and Frank at 3:35 a.m. Sept. 27, 2025.
This collection of stoneware will be sold during an estate sale at the home of Frank and Nancy Berger, 3626 South Gravel Rd.
Gary said his parents started collecting “stuff” as far back as he can remember. There is hardly a space in their house that doesn’t boast a collection of something.
“There’s some pretty amazing stuff,” Klino said. “It spans 79 years of their lives.”
The basement is filled with Frank’s Boy Scout memorabilia and a military collection on one half, while an assortment of Nancy’s collections fills the other half. The first floor is filled with antiques, primitives, “farmhouse fabulous décor,” Medina memorabilia, a huge butter pat holder collection, tea cup holders, glassware and stoneware.
Upstairs is devoted to Nancy’s collection of dolls, sewing notions and teddy bears.
The garage is also filled with everything from garden tools to Christmas decorations.
“Frank’s stuff was all over the place, while Nancy’s was so organized,” Klino said.
Because of the enormity of the estate, Klino said they have added an extra night for the sale. It is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. April 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 10 and 11 and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 12.
Gary Berger looks at a newspaper article on Dec. 31, 1999 announcing his father’s selection as Medina’s Citizen of the Year. He received the honor in 1972 and 1999.
