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Obituary for 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