The Life of Sean Finucane Toner
Sean Finucane Toner
1965–2018
Beloved son of Drena Ricci Dellarso and stepfather Rocco Dellarso, Sean was born in 1965 in St. Louis. His father, Thomas N. Toner, was a professional artist and art professor at St. Louis University. His mother is also an artist. When Sean was two years old, he was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1), which would plague him throughout his life.
Sean attended Chaminade College Prepatory School in St. Louis, and earned his B.A. in English from St. Louis University in 1989.
Despite the significant physical challenges brought about by the diabetes, including total blindness at age 30, Sean was an active member of the greater Philadelphia writing community, as well as the writing community of the New Jersey shore. Sean taught workshops and attended the Philadelphia Writers Conferences, where he won 11 prizes, including a First Prize by Popular Vote. He served as its Vice President, and established (and ran) the Philadelphia Writers Conference Free Forums, one of which brought together disabled writers to talk to the community about writing with and about disability.
In 2007, Sean earned his Master’s in Fine Art in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he met his future wife, Robin Parks. They made their home in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Sean’s personal essays have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including the Best of Hippocampus, Best of Philadelphia Stories, Brevity, The MacGuffin, The Monarch Review, Word Riot, Best of the Net, Ardor Magazine, Apiary, Opium, Perigee, and others. And his creative nonfiction found a home in a Literary Death Match held at the World Café in Philadelphia.
Sean was predeceased by his great aunt Catherine Toppitzer, Grandmother Mary Finucane Toner, his father, and his cat Zonk. He is survived by his wife, mother, and stepfather; his sister, Christi Goettsche (Steve); his uncle and aunt Bob and Lin Toner; and his cousins: Chris Clarke, Shannon Toner, Kevin Toner, Tim Toner, and Beth Toner.
A Mass was held on Friday, May 4th, at St. Dorothy Parish in Drexel Hill, Pa. Sean’s remains are interred at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Pa.
FRIDAY, MAY 4th, 2018
VISITATION -9:30-10:30AM -ST. DOROTHY'S CHURCH, 4910 TOWNSHIP LINE RD. DREXEL HILL, PA.
MASS -10:30AM - ST. DOROTHY'S CHURCH, DREXEL HILL, PA
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2018.06.02
Obituary
Sean Finucane Toner
1965–2018
Beloved son of Drena Ricci Dellarso and stepfather Rocco Dellarso, Sean was born in 1965 in St. Louis. His father, Thomas N. Toner, was a professional artist and art professor at St. Louis University. His mother is also an artist.
When Sean was two years old, he was diganosed with Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1), which would plague him throughout his life.
Sean attended Chaminade College Prepatory School in St. Louis, and earned his B.A. in English from St. Louis University in 1989.
Despite the significant physical challenges brought about by the diabetes, including total blindness at age 30, Sean was an active member of the greater Philadelphia writing community, as well as the writing community of the New Jersey shore. Sean taught workshops and attended the Philadelphia Writers Conferences, where he won 11 prizes, including a First Prize by Popular Vote. He served as its Vice President, and established (and ran) the Philadelphia Writers Conference Free Forums, one of which brought together disabled writers to talk to the community about writing with and about disability.
In 2007, Sean earned his Master’s in Fine Art in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he met his future wife, Robin Parks. They made their home in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Sean’s personal essays have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including the Best of Hippocampus, Best of Philadelphia Stories, Brevity, The MacGuffin, The Monarch Review, Word Riot, Best of the Net, Ardor Magazine, Apiary, Opium, Perigee, and others. And his creative nonfiction found a home in a Literary Death Match held at the World Café in Philadelphia.
Sean was predeceased by his great aunt Katherine Toppitzer, grandmother Mary Finucane Toner, his father, and his cat Zonk. He is survived by his wife, mother, and stepfather; his sister, Christi Goettsche (Steve); his uncle and aunt Bob and Lin Toner; and his cousins: Chris Clarke, Shannon Toner, Kevin Toner, Tim Toner, and Beth Toner. A Mass was held on Friday, May 4, at St. Dorothy Parish in Drexel Hill, Pa. Sean’s remains are interred at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetary in Springfield, Pa.
2019.05.21
Fellow Writer
I first met Sean at a writer's conference in Philadelphia. We admired each other's work and helped each other in our writing. The friendship was mostly by email, as we lived more than 600 miles apart. I did visit him a few times and my fondest memory is of the time I let him drive my car in an empty parking lot while I guided him. He was so excited with the venture and I am glad that I gave him something he enjoyed so much. I miss him.
2021.10.03
Loved this guy!
I met Sean when he was just a little kid. His dad, Tom, was my art teacher at St. Louis University. Tom and I got to be friends and we lived close to each other. I one occasion when Tom and his wife Drena were out of town, they asked me to take care of Sean for a few days. He was diabetic, and my biggest challenge was trying to catch him in the morning to give him his insulin shot. Several years later, Sean became one of my students at Chaminade, in a drawing class!. I never found out if he was good at drawing because he just wouldn't do any work! Lol. He was the first student I ever failed for lack of working. How ironic! I was also a bridesmaid in his dad's wedding when he married Gail Engler. I spoke occasionally with Sean over the years but was very sad to hear he had died. I'll have to read some of his writings now. I wish I had had the chance to sit and spend time with him getting to know him as an adult. His death just broke my heart. ❤️