Thomas Gorman '54

Thomas Gorman '54 passed away Nov. 22, 2022, in San Francisco, California. He was 92.

Born on July 14, 1930, to Mary (Davis) and Cecil, Gorman was raised in Inglewood, California, and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1948. He then attended El Camino Junior College, where a respected instructor advised him, "You should transfer to a university." Heeding that advice, he transferred to UCLA, where he earned a B.A. in English. While working as a hasher in the Kappa Delta sorority, he met his one true love, Judith Crafts. The couple spent 67 devoted years together after marrying in 1955.

Tom and Judy Gorman began their married lives together in Germany, where Gorman was stationed with the 41st Armored Infantry Battalion (41st AIB). After his honorable discharge as a 1st lieutenant, the couple returned to Los Angeles, where Gorman began his 35-year career with Bank of America, beginning in the Trust Department in Beverly Hills, until his retirement as manager of the domestic financial institutions national group. Striving to learn more and progress in his career, Gorman commuted twice a week at night from Pasadena, eating a sandwich for dinner en route, to the USC School of Law. He received his LL.B. (bachelor of laws) in 1963. Gorman possessed the qualities of a first-rate banker: integrity and honesty, organization and attention to detail, practicality and warmth.

When the bank transferred Gorman to San Francisco in 1971, he and Judy settled in San Mateo, where they lived for 47 years. Gorman was an athlete and avid sports fan. He played baseball and basketball for many years, first at Mt. Carmel, and then with his Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers at UCLA, where he also served as chapter president. When his playing days ended, he happily transitioned to coaching, first during his military service, and then as a volunteer coach for the St. Matthew's School baseball and basketball teams in San Mateo. And he never missed an opportunity to cheer on his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers and UCLA Bruins.

Gorman took up skiing at the age of 40, subsequently sharing his love for the sport with his children and grandchildren on the mountains he loved at Lake Tahoe and in the Rockies. He hung up his skis at age 80 after a final run down the slopes. He loved the music of Gilbert and Sullivan, supporting the Lamplighters Music Theatre in San Francisco for over 30 years. The Gormans explored many corners of the globe from Southeast Asia, Japan and China, to Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. They were both proud to have visited all 50 U.S. states.

Gorman championed higher education for his children and grandchildren and did not miss a single college graduation, even flying from San Diego to New Haven on a redeye at age 80 so as not to break his perfect attendance record. He was relentlessly optimistic, loved a good road trip, did his own taxes annually with a pencil and calculator and never turned down the opportunity to enjoy a good martini.

Gorman was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and their five children, Kathleen (husband Bob) Slattery, Lise (husband Bob) Marquis, Thomas C. Gorman, Janet (husband Steve) Cutcliffe and John Gorman; as well as his nine grandchildren, Mary Kate, Margy, Rob, Brett, Allison, Emily, Jenni, Matt and Cate. His three great-grandchildren, Skye, Henry and Helen brought him great joy.

The family thanks the doctors at UCSF who cared for Gorman over many years. With their encouragement, he participated in the Medalist Program & Study at the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School in 2010, where he was awarded their Bronze Medal, honoring his 50 years of living a healthy lifestyle with Type 1 Diabetes.

Gorman, a faithful Catholic his entire life, was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.