By TOM WILLIAMS

When you faced the challenges that Frank Tummarello faced, life could get you down.

He struggled with polio as a child but became an athlete. And, as an adult, he needed a heart transplant and battled cancer. Through it all, he was a positive force.

In fact, he started his first business as a young teenager and built it into a food and beverage business that was successful for six decades. He was known for using the resources of his business to help charities and other causes.

When he was young, Frank played most sports but leaned toward basketball. He eventually became the boys basketball coach at The Assumption School and later took over the girls basketball program for three seasons at his alma mater, Holy Spirit, where he was also teaching.

When WOND Radio started a basketball team that played local teams to raise money for charities – “The WOND All-Americans” – Frank became part of the team. He was frequently the leading scorer in games.

Once, against The Pleasantville Police & Fire Departments at Pleasantville High School, the radio station team was down one point with 10 seconds left and had the ball out of bounds at halfcourt. Frank lined up in the backcourt and, using a wall screen, broke into the open toward the basket. He caught the pass and made the layup to win the game.

Afterwards, he confessed that he never felt more nervous in a game. “I was so wide open, ” he said, “I was scared I would miss the shot.”

In his teens and twenties, Frank usually looked older that he was. I generally looked younger. One night we were going to Skinny D’Amato’s Beef & Beer, adjacent to The 500 Club. I was probably 23 and Frank was 17 or 18. They carded me but not him. He always enjoyed that.

Frank died late last month. He is survived by his wife, Kirsten; his sister, Vicki; two daughters; two sons; three grandchildren; and a large, extended family.

He was a living example of making the best of the hand you were dealt. There were times when the health obstacles he faced would slow him down a bit but he never stopped moving forward. If somebody didn’t tell you about his problems you probably would never suspect by his body language. He was a guy who lived life to the fullest and who made those around him feel better.

Frank Tummarello was 73.