Antonio “Tony” Franco was born in Mexico on January 21, 1956 to Carlota Franco and Refugio Paul Hernandez, the fourth of four children who filled their home with the kind of mischief that becomes family legend. From the start he had a magnetic presence – cheerful, daring, and occasionally chaotic.  He once persuaded his older siblings to build a campfire under the bed to authentically play cowboys.  On another day, he set off a kitchen-wide food fight that left eggs on the walls and flour in everyone’s hair. 

When the family moved to Southern California, Tony was the first to learn English and quickly became his mother’s translator, navigating school forms, bills, and everyday conversations long before most children are trusted with such responsibilities. He had an affinity for poetry and impressed his teachers. His instinct to look after others emerged early. In sixth grade, after seeing a group of mice huddling near a construction site, he gathered them into a box and tucked them into a drawer to keep them safe — giving his sister quite a fright.

Charismatic and friendly, Tony moved through Anaheim High School with an ease that belied the challenges ahead. At a young age, he married Betty Nolan and became a father to Mindy Cherise and Tony Franco. Life after marriage was complicated and distance made staying connected difficult. Those who knew him understood how deeply he cared and how often he carried his children in his thoughts.

Tony built his career in the restaurant industry, managing Sizzler and Colony Kitchen restaurants.  He offered jobs to people who needed them, never wanting to turn his back on anyone. But he could not ignore what he saw behind the scenes: immigrant dishwashers and busboys working long hours for little pay. Understanding both the pressures of management and the realities of working people, he chose solidarity and joined a union. In Washington, D.C., he once helped shut down major highways near the Capitol to force lawmakers to listen — an act both bold and true to who he was.

For all his convictions, Tony had an open mind and heart. His home became a gathering place where friends felt free to stop by, share a meal, or talk through their troubles. He had a gift for listening and found joy in storytelling and connection.

In his final years, Tony accompanied and cared for his mother, providing her home with laughter and support. He was, in every sense, a devoted son.

Tony is survived by his mother, Carlota Franco; his siblings Leobardo Hernandez, Rocio García and Eduardo Franco; his son and daughter; five grandchildren; two nephews; and four nieces. He died at the age of 69 at Anaheim Regional Memorial Hospital on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27, 2025. 

He will be missed — greatly and sharply — by all who knew his heart.