Tucker, 59, died Sunday, Oct. 11, from liver cancer that was detected less than five weeks ago, said longtime friends Jim Mears and John Schueller.
For more than three decades, Tucker owned and operated the popular downtown shop that served generations with treats such as the “Wildcat Twist.”
Schueller, of Turtlecreek Twp. said Tucker was staying at his home and had been receiving hospice care.
On Friday, Schueller was asked to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award on Tucker’s behalf from the Franklin Booster Club before the Franklin-Eaton football game.
“He cared a lot about Franklin and the youth of Franklin,” said Nina Tibbs, who volunteered with Tucker in the district’s athletic booster’s group.
Mears, a former Franklin mayor and councilman, said Tucker contributed greatly to the community. The Lebanon native and Miami University alumnus gave more than 25,000 hours of service over the past three decades running the concession stands for the Franklin Athletic Boosters.
Tucker sponsored a peewee football team for more than 25 years and was known for giving his teams a free ice cream after their games. One Mr. Frosty peewee player, Mears said, was former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
Mears said Tucker, who lived in an apartment above his insurance office on South Main Street, came into the office looking yellow. He said his workers thought Tucker had jaundice.
“He went down to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., that specialized in liver cancer, but they told him there wasn’t anything they could do to help him,” Mears said. “It completely ate him up. They gave him 30 to 60 days and he lasted 27.”
“He loved Franklin,” said Dennie Fitzgerald, who owned a flower shop just a few blocks from Mr. Frosty. “This was his adopted home.”
Tom Combs, owner of Pisanellos Pizza, said “there’s probably not a kid in town that hadn’t been touched by him. Kids here were always going to Mr. Frosty’s. ... He was a big part of town. We had an agreement that I wouldn’t sell ice cream and coneys and he wouldn’t sell pizza.”
Mears said Tucker donated his body to Wright State University and eventually his ashes will be spread in Daytona Beach, Fla., his favorite place to visit.
According to Schueller, Tucker left the business to his niece and nephew.
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