A life well lived

By Bob Dorman…

I am very sad to report Toni Dorman passed away at home, Friday morning after a courageous two-and-one-half-year battle with ovarian cancer. Toni was a great wife and an even better friend. She was an avid sailor, and we traveled over 8,000 miles down the Pacific coast, before moving to Punta Gorda. We continued sailing around Florida for another 18 years on our Island Packet Catamaran.

Toni’s life had a difficult start. Born two months premature, she was virtually blind and couldn’t talk until nearly 6 years old. But her parents, Bill and Marie, fought the school system to keep her in regular classes as opposed to handicapped schooling. She graduated summa cum laude and went on to Randolph – Macon Women’s College. After 2 years she transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to complete her BS and Master’s Degrees in Microbiology and Virology. But that was just the beginning, after UNC, she was recruited to Direct Laboratory services making her the first female director in the entire Mercy Hospital system.

A promotion for her former husband Tony, caused Toni to Leave Mercy behind and go into the industry selling medical products throughout the Appalachian Mountain communities. She quickly exceeded all expectations and was promoted to National Sales Manager. But a new challenge was brewing, now referred to as the AIDS epidemic. A major NGO to the NIH, Lytton Bionetics received one of the 3 licenses issued to develop a diagnostic screen for the AIDS virus to protect America’s blood supply and again she was recruited to handle the launch and implementation and was named Director of Product Sales.

Shortly afterwards, my company merged with Toni’s company, and we found ourselves sitting across the table formulating plans for the new company. We split the country east and west, and in time we both became directors again and such best friends and partners, that in 1993 ran off and got married!

Toni leaves behind her Husband of 30 years, Bob Dorman, a Brother John Orrison of Cape Coral FL. And 2 nieces, Elizabeth Orrison and Christine Orrison, both of Virginia Beach VA.

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family.  Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Punta Gorda Chaple.