Robert Gaynor, a life-of-the-party guy

If you handed Robert F. Gaynor a microphone at a gathering, your chances of getting it back were slim.

Bob, as he was best known, was a ham if there ever was one. Give him an audience and he was in his element. He was the life-of-the-party kind of guy who could croon a '50s ballad at a karaoke, make a speech, tell jokes, whatever the situation called for.

He was also an actor who was proud of his role as an extra in the popular 2006 film "Invincible," and acted in numerous plays for a theater group in South Jersey.

Robert Gaynor, a drug salesman for 25-plus years for Wyeth Laboratories who later set up displays for Disney movies for an advertising agency, died of a heart attack Friday. He was 63 and lived in Sicklerville, N.J.

His daughter, Erin Putman, said that her father was babysitting one of his two granddaughters and watching the World Cup soccer games on TV when he collapsed.

Bob was a big sports fan and he and his family got a kick out of his appearance in "Invincible," the story of Vince Papale, a bartender who got an improbable chance to play for the Eagles in 1976.

"He played one of the fans and you could see him clearly in two scenes," his daughter said. "Everybody had to get a copy of that movie."

Bob was also happy rocketing down the track of a roller coaster, the steeper and scarier the better, from Canada to Disney World in Florida and parks in between.

"He loved Disney World," Erin said. "He had this dream that when he retired, he'd get a job as a greeter at the park."

He was a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts and liked to take his family on excursions to find good roller coasters.

Bob was born and raised a Two-Streeter in South Philadelphia. He graduated from St. John Neumann High School and Drexel University in 1969. He worked for a time as a salesman for the Oscar Mayer Co.

As a salesman for Wyeth, he visited doctors' offices to sell the company's products. After he left there, he worked for an advertising company called Mosaic, setting up movie displays in stores around the region.

Bob performed with the Washington Township Spotlighters. He appeared in such plays as "Man of La Mancha," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Damn Yankees," and others. He was never the star, but he enjoyed playing supporting roles.

He was a big fan of the Irish band, Blackthorn, and followed it to its area appearances.

"He was a very personable guy, very vibrant," his daughter said. "He loved his family and he loved being around people. He was extremely funny and very theatrical."

Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Deborah Miraglia; a son, Brian; stepchildren Christina McGlinchey and George Miraglia; and two granddaughters.

Services: Mass of Christian Burial 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 176 Stagecoach Road, Sicklerville. Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Blackwood.