Obituaries : Gary M. Gorman; Former Times Reporter, Editor

Gary Michael Gorman, a former editor and reporter with the Los Angeles Times, died Tuesday of AIDS-related complications at a hospice near his home in Columbus, Ohio. He was 44.

A native of Ohio, Gorman graduated from Ohio State University in 1973 with a degree in journalism. His newspaper career took him to the Toledo Blade, Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times and Orlando Sentinel, where he was city editor for five years.

He came to The Times in 1985, transferring to the newspaper’s Ventura County Edition in 1990. In Ventura, he covered courts before becoming an assistant city editor and launching the edition’s front page Newswatch column.

“He was trusted,” Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said. “That’s probably the most important thing I can say. He was a true professional and a person whose word you could take to the bank.”

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Steven Z. Perren remembered Gorman as a “straight-shooting reporter” who was always fair.

“He presented both sides and, if you didn’t like it, tough bananas. He was a good, decent man, a good reporter and I counted him as a friend.”

In August 1994, Gorman resigned from The Times and returned to Ohio, where he was surrounded by family and friends. He moved in with his parents, Jack and Carol Gorman of Dublin, Ohio, shortly before his death.

“He loved the newspaper life, but I think he knew he couldn’t handle it anymore,” Jack Gorman said. “His death was painful, but it was a blessing to him.”

In addition to his parents, Gorman is survived by a brother, Michael of Hilliard, Ohio; sisters Chris Badley, Diane Francescon and Julie Escolas, all of Columbus, Ohio; a niece and 14 nephews.

The funeral will be held Thursday at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Columbus. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Hospice of Riverside Hospital, 3535 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214-9861.