My father is somewhat the same.
I went to help him move a couple of years ago. I chucked out two dozen dried out ball point pens and masses of scrap paper. He kept this junk, but I had to talk him out of giving some high quality china and glassware away that were heirlooms. He'd already given all the larger cooking ware away with the result that he had nothing to cook a decent sized meal in. Yes, former public servant.
(Redemption blamed it on the Bossa Nova since, Sun 6 May 2012, 3:23, Reply)