Fran is survived by his wife, Marlene Madzy Tokar of St. Simons Island, Ga.; and his three daughters, Terri Tokar of Austin, Texas, Lisa Tokar of Fayetteville, N.Y., and Jodi Gallagher and husband, Brian Gallagher, of Roswell, Ga.
Born on Aug. 21, 1936, in Stockdale, Pa., Fran graduated from Charleroi High School, in Charleroi, Pa., in 1954. He attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., on a full football scholarship. Majoring in recreation administration, he graduated in 1958. He obtained a Master of Science degree at State University of New York at Cortland in 1966, majoring in recreation education.
Fran married his high school sweetheart Marlene Madzy Tokar in 1956, and they spent the majority of their marriage in Cortland, N.Y., where Fran was the director of the Cortland Youth Bureau for 35 years.
As an active leader in parks and recreation, he served as president of the New York State Recreation and Park Society Inc., and for two terms as president of the Central New York Recreation and Park Society. He was also a part-time instructor at the State University of New York College at Cortland in the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department.
He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a member of the Medical Service Officers Corps at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, in 1959.
After retirement in 1998, they moved to St. Simons Island (SSI), Ga., where Fran worked part-time as a starter at Sea Island. Fran eventually became a member at Sea Island where he enjoyed his passion for golfing on some of the most beautiful courses in the country. Besides being on the golf course, he enjoyed playing cards with friends and spending quality time with his family. His fun-loving personality was always shining through to all who knew him and he loved his life on SSI.
Besides his passion for golf, he clearly remembered how important his years playing football for NC State meant to his college career. He loved to recall games, plays and memories like they happened yesterday. He could easily recall events of his team winning the ACC Championship game in 1957. He remained a huge fan of the school and supported their football program.
Fran was also a member of St. William Catholic Church on St. Simons Island, Ga., where an inurnment service will be scheduled.
Arrangements are with Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, Ga. Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.edomillerandsons.com.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Fran Tokar Scholarship fund using the link below.
https://newyorkstaterecreationampparksociety.wildapricot.org/page-18125
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