EXCLUSIVE: Man Named in Gary Coleman Will - Train Collector
Jun. 18 2010, Published 9:25 a.m. ET
Among Gary Coleman’s most prized possessions were his model trains.
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And now RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively that he named a train collector in his will. Nick Barone, who owns Allied Model Trains, was named in two wills prepared by the Diff’rent Strokes star.
Both wills were filed in 2005. One names ex-girlfriend and business manager Anna Gray as primary executor, the other names Gary’s ex-wife Shannon Price as benefactor. The problem: Shannon’s will is invalid because it wasn’t signed. Shannon also submitted a 2007 handwritten codicil. The court has yet to determine which will is valid.
But, what we can tell you for sure is that Nick was named as secondary executor in both wills. And for good reason, Nick and Gary had a lot in common -- their love for locomotives.
In fact, collecting was his passion -- Gary’s entire basement was filled with trains and he even had cabinets organized by different train parts.
Nick’s company has been around for 64 years, but he took over as co-owner three years ago. The store houses a collection of thousands of model trains, including the highly coveted Lionel Electric Trains.
It’s yet unknown if some of Gary’s trains will end up at the Culver City shop, but RadarOnline.com has confirmed that Nick and Anna -- the executor in one of the wills -- are friends.
As a testament to Gary’s dedication to the hobby, Shannon says she wants to spread some of his ashes over train tracks.