Samuel 'Beau' Freeman II, auctioneer and Freeman's chair

Samuel M. "Beau" Freeman II, 80, of Chestnut Hill, a sixth-generation auctioneer and chairman of Freeman's auction house, died Thursday, June 15, of natural causes at his home.

Mr. Freeman joined the family business in 1958, fresh from Wesleyan University, and stayed for his entire career, even calling a watch sale on June 12, three days before his death. He started out sweeping floors in the basement and setting up sales, then worked his way up to become the chairman who would lead America's oldest auction house into the 21st century.

He became a "dynamic figurehead" for the auction house, with deep knowledge of auctioning, appraisal, and Philadelphia family history. He viewed employees as part of his extended family, mentoring them and remaining "constantly amazed" by their dedication, said his son, Samuel T. III, the company's senior vice president.

A Philadelphia native born at Germantown Hospital, Mr. Freeman decided early that he would join the company. He studied history and art in college, then returned to Philadelphia. He bought into the company in the 1960s, and in the 1980s found himself the owner, with other family members having departed or retired, his son said.

"He was the one who held all the shares … recognizing that if the legacy of the company was going to continue, he had to find a way to get that to happen," his son said.

He worked to do so up until his last days in semi-retirement. Sitting in the boardroom, with portraits of the previous chairmen back to 1805, "his constant personal refrain was, 'Don't screw it up,'" his son said.

Most of all, Mr. Freeman loved being behind the auctioneer's lectern, gavel in hand. In recent years, he concentrated on Americana furniture and decorative arts, jewelry and watches, and books, maps, charts, and ephemera. At the company's weekly sales, he would often take over temporarily to give an auctioneer a lunch break.

"He's always had a very good command of his audience and also a great knowledge of whatever he's selling," his son said. "His ability to capture the attention of the audience and engage them and get the bids to go is somewhat of a legendary aspect of his career."

A "true Chestnut Hill gentleman" who always sported a bow tie — because a long tie would get in the way when crawling under furniture to appraise it — Mr. Freeman even in semi-retirement went to the office two or three days a week and readily handed out advice to people who called asking about selling things.

A stellar athlete in college and at Germantown Friends School, he played soccer and squash as an adult. He was involved in his  community and church and enjoyed the Jersey Shore.

But Mr. Freeman's commitment to his family, including his wife and four children, "far and away exceeded all other interests," his son said. "He still found the time to be gentle and kind. … There are so many adjectives to describe my father and his Old World charm, and his ability to make everybody feel comfortable and loved."

He was a gentleman "the likes of which they don't really make anymore," said his wife, Margaret "Peggy," whom he wed in 1971.

Family members said he was naturally humble and put others before himself "in every respect."

"He would tell you that he was just a man. Nothing special," said his son, who added that his father often said there were "only two times when your name should appear in the newspaper … when you marry and when you die."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Freeman is survived by sons William H. and Jonathan C.; daughter Wendy; eight grandchildren; a sister; and his former wife, Eleanor W. DeCesare.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave, Philadelphia 19118.

Contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church at the address shown above; Center for Autistic Children, 3905 W. Ford Rd., No. 6, Philadelphia 19131; or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 225 City Ave., Suite 104, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., 19004.