Obituary for John Train
ISLESBORO, MAINE......... John Train was born in 1928 in New York and died on August 13, 2022 in
Rockport, Maine. We
mourn the loss of an extraordinary man. His keen intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit led
him to explore countless subjects and cultures. He started a variety of businesses, wrote on a broad
array of topics, and organized numerous philanthropic organizations. He rejoiced in spirited
discussions, the more arcane the better; he was wonderfully witty and celebrated wit in others; he
championed the accurate recitation of poetry in numerous languages, and was fascinated by the finer
points of finance; he wrote with verve and sailed with brio; he had a perfectly judged anecdote
for every occasion. His mind and spirit truly were all-encompassing.
John attended Groton School ’46 and Harvard University, BA ’50, MA ’51. He loved literature,
languages, music, humor, as well as military and philosophical issues. He was an editor of the Harvard
Lampoon, and a co-founder of the Paris Review. He published some 25 books and hundreds of articles
on a broad array of topics – from finance (The Money Masters)
to humor (Remarkable Names) and affection (Love). He enjoyed walking trips, tennis, and was a
dedicated sailor all his life. John is buried near his much-loved summer home in Maine.
Beyond his success as an investment advisor and author, John had an active involvement in
international relations. Those interests and his experience in government, while in the Army and
afterward, resulted in appointments to the African Development Fund and the East West Center by
Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He received merit awards from Italy, France, and
Great Britain, and had deep connections in those countries. John’s hatred of tyranny and injustice led
to the founding of The Civil Courage Prize, which is awarded annually to a person or organization that
exemplifies “steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk.”
He was the only child of Arthur Cheney Train and Helen Coster Gerard, but had seven older half
siblings. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years Francie (Cheston), former wife Maria Teresa
(Cini di Pianzano), three daughters – Helen “Musa” Train Klebnikov, Nina Train Choa, and Lisa Train –
son-in-law Clive Pinnington, and six grandchildren: Alexander, Gregory and Sophia Klebnikov; Nicholas
Train Choa, Henry Train Choa; and Felix Train Pinnington. He also leaves three stepchildren and many
nieces and nephews.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Civil Courage Prize
https://donorbox.org/remembering-john-train or the Islesboro Forum
http://islesboroforum.org/donate/.
Condolences may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long
Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Camden, ME.
Rockport, Maine. We
mourn the loss of an extraordinary man. His keen intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit led
him to explore countless subjects and cultures. He started a variety of businesses, wrote on a broad
array of topics, and organized numerous philanthropic organizations. He rejoiced in spirited
discussions, the more arcane the better; he was wonderfully witty and celebrated wit in others; he
championed the accurate recitation of poetry in numerous languages, and was fascinated by the finer
points of finance; he wrote with verve and sailed with brio; he had a perfectly judged anecdote
for every occasion. His mind and spirit truly were all-encompassing.
John attended Groton School ’46 and Harvard University, BA ’50, MA ’51. He loved literature,
languages, music, humor, as well as military and philosophical issues. He was an editor of the Harvard
Lampoon, and a co-founder of the Paris Review. He published some 25 books and hundreds of articles
on a broad array of topics – from finance (The Money Masters)
to humor (Remarkable Names) and affection (Love). He enjoyed walking trips, tennis, and was a
dedicated sailor all his life. John is buried near his much-loved summer home in Maine.
Beyond his success as an investment advisor and author, John had an active involvement in
international relations. Those interests and his experience in government, while in the Army and
afterward, resulted in appointments to the African Development Fund and the East West Center by
Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He received merit awards from Italy, France, and
Great Britain, and had deep connections in those countries. John’s hatred of tyranny and injustice led
to the founding of The Civil Courage Prize, which is awarded annually to a person or organization that
exemplifies “steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk.”
He was the only child of Arthur Cheney Train and Helen Coster Gerard, but had seven older half
siblings. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years Francie (Cheston), former wife Maria Teresa
(Cini di Pianzano), three daughters – Helen “Musa” Train Klebnikov, Nina Train Choa, and Lisa Train –
son-in-law Clive Pinnington, and six grandchildren: Alexander, Gregory and Sophia Klebnikov; Nicholas
Train Choa, Henry Train Choa; and Felix Train Pinnington. He also leaves three stepchildren and many
nieces and nephews.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Civil Courage Prize
https://donorbox.org/remembering-john-train or the Islesboro Forum
http://islesboroforum.org/donate/.
Condolences may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long
Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Camden, ME.