What shape are they in, are they saleable? Many widows are getting rid of their husbands collections So the market could be glutted except for the prized stuff so you might have some work on your hands to go through everyone.
Would this guy even have the money to ship them back to himself or rent a truck? After 11 years without them he's done with them and certainly not going to spend the money to get them.
Hope you were able to bounce back financially from this unfortunate situation and the loss wasn’t too much. The sting of a lost friend who was not the person you thought he was might remain for a while.
Never loan to a person with the thought you are definitely getting the money back. Always consider there’s a good chance it might turn out to be a gift you can afford.