Thomas Michael Rollman

Oct 17, 1943 -

Feb 29, 2024

Thomas Michael Rollman passed away on Feb. 29, 2024, of congestive heart failure after 20 years of battles with cancers. He was at home surrounded by his adoring family. Tom was born in Fond du Lac, Wis., on Oct. 17, 1943, to Melvin William Rollman and Ellen Jaeger Rollman. Tom spent his childhood loving the outdoors. He was joyful when digging worms and fishing with his grandpa Jaeger, and grandpa Rollman's farm was a place of the wonders of growing crops, raising animals and grandma Rollman's table of food and treats. Getting young Tom indoors was not easy, and his mom loved telling that when she dropped him off at school for kindergarten, he'd walk right through the hall and out the back door and beat her home. Finally, the nuns said to just keep him home for another year. A job transfer for dad Mel moved the family to Coshocton, Ohio, where Tom delivered 160 newspapers on his bike before school. He was often seen rolling down the hills with an overflowing bag and an ice cream bar in his hand. Tom played basketball in high school and was usually the high scorer. A joy almost greater than the win was that the priest would take the team to - believe it or not - Tom's Ice Cream Bowl for all the treats they could eat. Tom left Kent State University with bachelor's and master's degrees in education in 1969. He skipped his graduation ceremony because he and wife Bonnie Sonen, who was pregnant with Suzy, and their 2-year-old son, Tom Jr., were anxious to head to Alaska. They drove their International Travelall, with a yellow canoe strapped on the top, and camped every night. Tom was always grateful that Bonnie agreed to leave her family and embark on their new life and the adventures it promised.

Their family grew in September 1969, when Suzy was born. Trevor was born in Anchorage, Alaska, in June 1977, and Levi followed in January 1980. Tom taught physical education at Orion Junior High School on Elmendorf Air Force Base and at Central Middle School in Anchorage. In the early '70s, he moved to Chugiak High School to coach basketball. There he taught P.E. and was department head and athletic director until his retirement in 1990. In 1970, Tom got an opportunity to buy a salmon fishing site in the Northern District of Cook Inlet, and that happening launched one of the driving forces of the rest of his life. With a humble start in a leaky wooden boat, setnetting became the center of the family's summer life as they fished both Cook Inlet and Bristol Bay. Tom fished for 52 seasons - missing one for chemo in 2013 - and was looking forward to this year's season to begin. His legacy will continue as all three sons and their families will operate both fisheries. Tom's love of fishing, hunting and his family led to many adventures of moose and duck hunting with his kids and grandkids, and these gifts have given them energetic and exciting lives. Yet the main ingredient for the Rollman family has been Tom's kindness, positivity and generosity. He has been a father figure and example for how to treat others. In 1986. Tom divorced, and he and Ginny Smith began dating - then spent 26 years figuring out how to have a life together. They committed to fixing whatever they personally had to change and, in 2012, they married on Maui with the entire family standing barefoot in the ocean. They have been lucky to have shared full and joyous lives for almost 38 years. Thomas M. Rollman is survived by his loving wife, Virginia D. Rollman; sons, Thomas J. (Corinne), Trevor (Adria), Levi (Karissa); daughter, Susan (Casey Hull); grandchildren, Brenna Bigelow (Aaron), Bryson (Addison), Brooklyn, Carson and Griffin Wilde, Ella, Brandt, Clara, Russell; great-grandchildren, Bellamy Bigelow, Parker Rollman. To our Tom, Dad, Grandpa, "Your Big Heart is the Heart of our Hearts!"

A Celebration of Life and Ice Cream Social will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Homestead Lounge in Eagle River, Alaska. The doors open at 1 p.m., and the speakers begin at 2 p.m.