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Last Sunday, subway track inspector Marvin Franklin was struck and killed by a G train at Brooklyn's Hoyt-Schermerhorn station. He was buried yesterday in Queens after a service where family and friends remembered a generous friend with an artist's soul and a compassionate heart. His ex-wife was the minister who eulogized him. His current wife, three children, five sisters, and four brothers were all present. Michael Williams, a neighbor and co-worker who would drive to work with Franklin, remembered his friend fondly:
Midway through the service, Michael Williams, a muscular track worker in a pinstriped suit, rose and walked to the front of the church. “I’m Mikey, because that’s the name Marvin gave me,” Mr. Williams said. “I called him Marvelous, because he was.”
Franklin spent more than two decades working among trains and on the tracks where he would eventually die, but his passion was art and he carried a sketchbook with him nearly always. In a poignant intersection of two stories this week, when two homeless men were also killed in one night while in the subway system, the people who lived in the subway were Franklin's frequent subjects. Marvin Franklin was awarded Best in Show for his art work at the 2006 City Workers Invitational, hosted by the 136-year-old Salmagundi Art Club. The honor included a year's membership in the club. The work he entered was a watercolor chosen from his "Homeless Series." Some of Franklin's sketches of the homeless in the subway system can be seen here. One of the last watercolors Franklin completed can be viewed here (scroll down). He held a degree in illustrative arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology and spent many of his off-hours studying and practicing at the Art Students League. The New York Times reported that for his retirement, Franklin's dream was to open a gallery and give the proceeds to the homeless, the people he worked around for 22 years.
("Subway Series, Morning Rush Hour", by Marvin Franklin)
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This is such a tragedy. Franklin sounds like he was a truly great, solid and inspiring person. I hope the Transit Authority will not let his death be in vain - it's so upsetting to think he died because his supervisor wanted a shortcut.
Makes this story even more tragic. We need more people like this in the city.
This is a truly tragic event. He was clearly an amazing person and artist. In fact, I was interested in purchasing some of Marvin Franklin's original works. Does anyone know whom I could contact?
With regard, to the question about purchasing his art, I am Marvin's stepdaughter. We were all caught off guard by his death. It still doesn't quite seem real. A number of people have reached out about purchasing his art. We are going to take our time and catalog all of his works as there is quite a lot. If you would like to send an e-mail to kristen374@hotmail.com, I will pass the information on and when the time comes we will send out e-mails about where and how you can go about purchasing some of his works.
Greetings Kristen, my name is Malcolm Julian. I was a good friend and fellow Trackworker of Marvins' while working at 179th street and Hillside Ave in Queens for the past 13 years. Recently I purchased a 'homeless series'(the invisible) piece from 'Old Print Shop' in Manhattans' lower east side.
I also had my portrait painted by Marvin a few years ago. When the time is appropriate, I would like to share my ideas about what could be done to commemorate and celebrate Marvins' legacy. I can be reached via email: ahmosekarahotep@aol.com.
Thank you.
I am very sorry for the loss of a fellow New Yorker and artist. My best wishes go out to his friends, family, and acquaintances.
We are all fortunate that he has left a visual legacy to keep his spirit alive.