Pat Fusco of Steel Toys passed away 3 months ago. I was in touch with him a few times after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. I knew Pat when we were in a band together back in the 60's. He was the drummer and I was one of the guitarists. We played at Pip's in Sheepshead Bay,Brooklyn and all over Brooklyn. I reconnected with Pat when "O"Gauge Magazine did a story on his elevated subway structures. He designed one for me and I operate my "D" Train subway on it.
BeatleBob
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I talked to him probably 15 yrs ago. Sorry to hear he passed.
I am deeply saddened to hear this news. Pat was a character. A man of many talents who had a basement that could only be described as something OSHA would have shut down in a heartbeat.
He had welders and presses and torches and all sorts of stuff, I worked with him for a little while making his SteelToys Elevated Subway Lines. He was a staple in the Orange hall for many years and took great joy in running electrics on his home built catenary.
He was part Archie Bunker, part master tinkerer, and part philosopher. Hope your running your Locosound Redbird up there Pat.
Paul
RIP TREX
The hobby will miss Pat. Fun guy with a product ahead of it's time.
I always enjoyed BSing with Pat at York, he was very vocal in his opinions. He certainly livened up the ole AOL train boards.
Bill T.
Wow, very sad. Pat was such an entertaining lightning rod on the old AOL board. It was a pleasure to meet him at my 1st York 12 years ago. My condolences.
He certainly livened up the ole AOL train boards.
Bill T.
Indeed he did!
He was a fun guy to talk to to be sure.....
Peter
RIP Pat. Man sounds like he gave that lung cancer a run for it's money. He was diagnosed with it I think a few years back. Ah of course it's not easy taking down T-REX. My condolences he will be missed.
Sorry to hear about T-rex's passing. He was the heart and soul of the AOL board. I'll always remember the year I was recovering from heart surgery he gave me a place to sit at his booth at York. we talked for a long time. he was a very nice man and I always wondered how he was doing after he had stopped coming to York.
T-Rex was a unique character in this industry. We figured he was very sick as we didn't see him for years and he always traveled to the store for something. On the old AOL board his fights with Neil were legendary. Hopefully he will post his thoughts here. RIP Pat
He certainly livened up the ole AOL train boards.
Bill T.
Indeed he did!
Yep.. he was something else for sure... RIP T-Rex
I remember Pat from local train shows on Long Island. I believe I first met him at one of the Franklin Square VFW shows or at one of the few shows at Platte Deutsch on Hempstead Turnpike, must have been the late 80's or early nineties. I remember buying a motorized Ferris wheel kit and a couple of others. He was passionate about his product and working in metal. He gave me some great soldering tips and was a real Brooklynite in the best sense. Pat may you rest in peace.
All the best,
Miketg
His website (http://www.steeltoys.com/) is up for sale.
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