Thomas Edward Gorman (1961-2024)

Thomas Edward Gorman of Middleburg, VA, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 4, with his wife, Jessica Ann Rich, by his side. His passing followed a brief but valiant battle against pulmonary fibrosis, a side effect of the chemotherapy he underwent for prostate cancer. He was 63 years old.

Tom lived life to the fullest and approached everything he did with an unbridled enthusiasm and creativity. He truly embodied these words from his favorite Tennyson poem:

"How dull it is to pause, to make and end,

To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!

As tho to breathe were life! Life piled on life…"

Tom was an entrepreneur, a renowned event producer, and a planner-extraordinaire of everything from inaugurations and galas, to tailgates and theme parties (the latter, of course, featuring his specialty cocktails). He was generous and fiercely loyal as a friend, a colleague, a mentor, a doting husband, and Charley the dog’s best friend. Tom was not as fond of cats, but they gravitated towards and loved him, just like everyone else.

Growing up, Tom excelled in most sports and was a competitive cyclist and soccer player in high school and college. Later in life, and with no riding experience, he took up the sport of polo which fit right in with his athleticism and adventurous lifestyle. As a latecomer to the sport, Tom’s goal was to “get good enough so that people will want to play with me.” Not surprisingly, they did. Polo took Tom to Aspen for Snow Polo, Argentina for training with the best players in the world, and to England where he represented the USA in 2018.

Professionally, Tom was best known as a leading event producer and was famous for working relentlessly to make sure that every element of every single show or meeting was just right. But it was exactly this attention to detail, and his drive to create truly original and one-of-a-kind experiences that set Tom apart. A veritable fountain of creativity and innovation, he’d often joke that his tombstone would one day read, “Wait, I have an idea!". Tom treated every event, no matter how large or small as the most important event he ever encountered, and the results were undeniable. He proudly served as Director of Production for the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, CA. He produced the presidential campaign Election Night events for Al Gore in 2000 in Nashville, TN, and for John Kerry in 2004 in Boston, MA. Tom led advance teams on trips for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, including to Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. He also worked on the signing of the Wye River Memorandum peace accord between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1998, and the 1999 Stability Pact Summit in Sarajevo on rebuilding the Balkans.

One of the highlights of his career was leading the production team for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of NATO, in April 1999. He also served as Creative Producer of the 2013 Let Freedom Ring celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.

In 2000, Tom founded Group Incorporated, a communications and event production company, where he served as Executive Producer until his death. Throughout his career he maintained valued, long-term relationships with numerous corporate, association and non-profit clients.  Events he produced included: the National Governors Association Centennial Celebration, Pennsylvania Gubernatorial and Philadelphia Mayoral Inaugurations, an International Brotherhood of Teamsters convention, and the UAE’s successful bid to host the International Renewable Energy Agency. Additionally, with a high school friend, Tom co-founded Potomac Dining L.P., a restaurant savings program that earned a spot on the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing companies. In more recent years, Tom added a focus on outdoor and lifestyle events in and around the Middleburg area.

Tom was born in Washington, DC and spent his early years in Bowie, MD, where his father led the Advanced Orbital Programming Branch of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Tom moved to Philadelphia, PA, with his family at the age of 10, and enrolled in the Friends Select School of Philadelphia where he made many lifelong friends, graduating in 1980. Tom then graduated from George Washington University in 1985, where he studied Communications and Political Science and was a member of the varsity soccer team. 

With a love for politics and being at the center of the action, Tom stayed in Washington after university, becoming not only one of the very best “advance and comms guys” around but the quintessential “Man About Town.” In fact, one of Tom’s most iconic calling cards was the Alfa Romeo Spyder convertible he drove around DC. If you were lucky enough to get a ride, it most likely involved high speeds, a stop for espresso and a lot of laughing. Whether attending an event at the White House, producing a meeting on Capitol Hill, or gathering with clients or friends at the latest hip restaurants, Tom was well known and, more importantly, well liked. With a pep in his step and a “what’s next?” mentality, Tom’s personality was infectious and unforgettable. He will be deeply missed.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife Jessica, his dog Charley, and a warm and wide community of friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas P. Gorman and Margaret (“Peggy”) J. (nee Lavin) Gorman, and by his sisters, Delia and Rita Gorman.

A Celebration of Life is being held on Sunday, December 15, in Upperville, VA.  Another celebration of his life and work in politics and global events will take place April 26, 2025, in Washington, DC.