Frank C. Hare spent the 1950s to 1970s as an insurance and banking executive, almost the stereotype of the World War II veteran who built a successful career while wearing a suit Downtown every day and returning to a suburban home at night.

But he had one special passion he'd harbored ever since being handed his first toy train at age 7. And when he was in his 50s, Mr. Hare turned that interest in model railroading into a second career. He opened the Iron Horse Hobby Shop in 1978, first in Bethel Park before relocating a few years later to Scott.

Fanatics and families have been coming ever since to the 40-by-50-foot store on Painters Run Road, its every shelf from floor to ceiling stocked with trains and train paraphernalia. Customers could obtain items sold at few other locations in the region and receive vast knowledge about the hobby from Mr. Hare or a similarly knowledgeable and enthusiastic member of the staff.

Mr. Hare, 86, of Upper St. Clair, died Monday at St. Clair Hospital, two weeks after entering for a urinary tract infection.

The former president of the national Train Collectors Association, Mr. Hare had occasional health problems since undergoing open heart surgery in 2000, but was still active at the Iron Horse until selling it early this year. It continues under another owner, but without the huge presence of the amiable 6-foot-4 storyteller.

"He probably created lifelong memories for many families in the area," said a longtime friend and employee, Tom Pingor of Munhall.

Mr. Hare was raised in New Castle and worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps before joining the Army in World War II, primarily working stateside as a clerk. He thrived afterward in the business world, rising to vice president of claims for National Union Insurance and vice president and trust officer for Equibank.

While building a traditional career, he devoted his free time to traveling to train shows, collecting models and educating himself on railroading history. He acquired every Lionel train made from 1927 to 1942 and all of the American Flyers produced between 1927 and 1937. Mr. Hare's personal train collection numbered 2,000.

He spent the last few decades sharing such items and his knowledge of them with the public, making himself as happy as them by doing so. He and two partners first started Iron Horse Productions in the mid-1970s to publish catalogues and calendars about railroading before he opened the hobby shop -- devoted exclusively to model trains -- on his own.

"Frank had just come to the point where he felt he had the freedom to enjoy his hobby as a career," said Jim Burke of Upper St. Clair, a friend and onetime business partner. "He was without a doubt the friendliest person you could ever meet. If you met him, you felt like he had been your friend forever."

Mr. Hare was active for decades in the Train Collectors Association, No. 256 among its 60,000 members. He served as chairman of its national convention in Pittsburgh in 1966 and as the organization's president in 1981-82. He was editor of its national magazine and also edited and published a magazine for American Flyer collectors for 21 years.

His legacy is a shop stuffed with every conceivable starter kit and specialty train, along with the miniature buildings, landscaping, people and other items enjoyed by both buffs and newcomers, as well as numerous books and magazines sold at the Iron Horse.

"Being in this shop -- I don't call it work," he said in an interview there just after his 81st birthday.

All because his Aunt Kate gave him a little black wind-up steam engine 79 years ago, which he held onto ever since. It will go into his casket with him, at Mr. Hare's request.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; four sons, Frank D. of Piney Flats, Tenn.; Timothy of Easton, Northampton County; Thomas of Bethel Park; and John of Newtown, Bucks County; three stepchildren, Patricia Hartz of Oxford, Mich.; Julie Morrow of Wilmington, N.C.; and Steven Colditz of Upper St. Clair; one sister, Raymonda Monaco of New Castle; one brother, Jack Hare of New Castle; his former wife, Lorayne Hare of Bethel Park; nine grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Beinhauer Mortuary, 2828 Washington Road, Peters, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Burial will be in Castle View Memorial Cemetery in New Castle.

Donations may be made to the Train Collectors Association, P.O. Box 248, Strasburg, PA 17579.