Sperandeo joined the Model Railroader staff in 1979. Over the years he worked his up through the ranks, becoming editor in 1993 and, later, executive editor. Most recently he was editor of Model Railroader’s annual Great Model Railroads issue. He was also a prolific author for Kalmbach Books.
Sperandeo’s expertise extended to all facets of the model-railroad hobby, but he was especially known for his command of realistic train operations, as reflected in his popular column in the magazine, “The Operators.”
“Andy was an excellent model builder, a diligent researcher, and a meticulous editor,” says Model Railroader Editor Neil Besougloff. “We will remember all of that, but mostly we remember that Andy was our close friend.”
A renowned expert on the Santa Fe, Sperandeo was active in the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society, as well as the National Model Railroad Association. His home layout is a faithful interpretation of the Santa Fe’s main line through California’s Cajon Pass in the late 1940s.
Sperandeo was a native of New Orleans. He earned his B.A. in English from Loyola of the South, an M.A. from Louisiana State University, and was working on his Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas when Model Railroader lured him to Milwaukee in 1979.
A burial ceremony is planned for Saturday, with funeral details pending.
