FRANCIS J. TRUNZO JR., 72, chugged off on the celestial train to Heaven on Oct. 20, 2009, probably hoping to catch a glimpse of Grandpa Samuel Trunzo, who ran the roundhouse in Punxsutawney, Pa., where he was born in 1937.

Frank was the first child of the late Francis J. Trunzo M.D. and Catherine (Kernan) Trunzo, and had two brothers James Samuel (Jerry Francis) Trunzo of Tallahassee, Fla. and the late William Kernan Trunzo.

While in high school, he had a checkered career as a sports writer for the local paper and a radio announcer, but he did graduate from Punxsutawney High School in 1954.

He left Punxsy with a football scholarship to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., where he promptly broke his leg and never played football again, opting for lacrosse instead when he was whole enough to run. He was eternally proud of the fact that he played in the first game he ever saw and that the Dickinson Lacrosse Team won the National Championship his senior year.

Graduating in 1958, he went off to join the U.S. Navy where he enjoyed two wonderful years in the Seventh Fleet keeping the free world safe, hitting the beaches of Spain and France frequently. His final two years in the Navy were spent at the Pentagon as an Admiral’s Aide.

It was in D.C. that he met his future wife, Roberta Garry, while Bobbe was toiling away in the Foreign Service. They married shortly after he left the Navy and moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. to begin law school at Duquesne University, where he earned his JD in 1965. They have two children, Francis J. Trunzo III, of Phoenix and Claire Elaine Trunzo (Michael) Miller of Pittsburgh.

In addition to his legal pursuits at PPG Industries in Pittsburgh, he was instrumental in bringing football back to Duquesne. He was on the sidelines at every game tracking the plays for the coach and he was at Three Rivers Stadium for every Steeler game.

In addition to sailing, his interest in toy trains was rekindled. He began collecting Marx trains when nobody wanted them and soon became known in TCA as Mr. Marx.

They retired to Dataw Island, S.C., then headed west to Green Valley where Frank immediately joined the Toy Train Operating Museum in Tucson and the Tucson Garden Railway Society. Nothing made Frank happier than seeing the smiles on children’s faces as he showed them how to operate the trains and accessories at the museum.

Besides his wife of 47 years, two children and his brother, he is survived by a beloved grandson, Michael Thomas Miller of Pittsburgh.

There will be a memorial service and interment in Punxsutawney. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the charity of your choice.