Toni Gorman

Mar 6, 1962 -

Apr 18, 2024

Our amazing mother passed away, at the age of 62, after enduring over a decade of Parkinson's disease. She was an outstanding parent, loving daughter, devoted sister and lifelong friend to many.

Born in Illinois to Marilyn Novak (nee Bock), she was the fourth of six sisters. When she was a toddler, her family moved to New Jersey, where she spent the remainder of her formative years. It was there that her mom met and married her dad, Joseph Novak, who helped raise her and with whom she had a special bond. After high school, Toni met her future husband, Mark Gorman, and followed him to Alaska for adventure and a change of scenery. While the marriage didn't last, her love of the 49th state did, and she spent the rest of her life there.

Toni was athletic and an avid sports fan. She started by playing basketball in her youth and continued by playing in adult leagues and adding other sports, such as softball and swimming, to her repertoire. She was never one to let personal setbacks deter her for long; despite asthma, a bad back or even Parkinson's, she remained flexible and would switch sports as needed, moving from basketball to running to flyball as she aged. She enjoyed watching college basketball and professional football, particularly the Giants. She coached as many of her children's sports teams as she could and, when not coaching, was sure to never miss a game or meet. She liked being outdoors and spent countless hours running, hiking, biking or skiing in the Alaska mountains, perhaps with friends and family, but always with a dog.

Toni worked in healthcare IT. After receiving her bachelor's and master's degrees, she worked as a computer programmer for Providence Medical Center and the State of Alaska, but eventually she worked her way up to being the Director of Programming Services at ANTHC. Many of her coworkers became close friends before she retired early due to health reasons.

Toni's greatest focus was on her relationships with friends and family. She had many friends from a variety of backgrounds and had a knack for keeping in touch despite time and distance. Her family, however, always came first. She was a devoted sister and daughter, never missing her weekly phone calls with family back east. Above all, she was a proud mom to Erik and Jamie, loving and accepting them for who they were. She was heavily involved in their lives, knowing all their friends and interests, while still respecting their privacy and boundaries. From this, her kids never questioned her love or support for them. Her life's dream of becoming a grandmother came true many times over the past several years, although her health didn't allow her to experience that dream in the manner that she deserved.

Toni is survived by her son, Erik (Hannah); daughter, Jamie (Ryan); four grandchildren, with two more expected later this year, Lochlan, Otto, Remi and Lorelei; five sisters, Georgia (Paul) Meierdierck, Robin (Jerry) Thibault, Jackie Keene, Jolyn (Tom) Czerniecki and Anna (Joseph) Zanki; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mom and dad; birth father, Lou Poliquin; and canine soulmate, Candy.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life, which is planned to be held in Anchorage, Alaska, in mid-December 2024. To remain updated regarding the final details, please send an email to familie.gorman@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Toni's name to the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation or an animal support charity of your choice. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at Aspen Creek Senior Living, especially Meme and Pamela, for lovingly taking care of Toni in her final years.