MARY ALICE GORMAN: R.I.P.

Sad news. MaryAlice Gorman, founder and longtime owner of the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Pittsburgh, PA, has passed away. She was a great supporter of the mystery community and a mentor, role model, and friend to so many.  Love and condolences go out to Richard, her family, and her many friends. May her memory be a blessing.

Mary Alice Gorman was a native of Pittsburgh. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education and a Master’s in Counseling from Duquesne University. She taught in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and received a fellowship to CMU for Graduate work in Linguistics, Literature and Curriculum Development. Following her career in public education, she established her own consulting business, Gorman & Coopersmith and became the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh ACLU. As Executive Director of the Allegheny County Center for Victims of Violent Crimes and President of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, she lead the expansion of service to victims throughout PA funded by fines and penalty assessments.

MaryAlice and her husband Richard Goldman opened Mystery Lovers Bookshop on Halloween in 1990 in Oakmont. They were honored with Pittsburgh Magazine’s Excellence in the Arts Award in the category of Spoken Arts in 1996 and Pittsburgh Magazine Bests also listed the bookshop in 2008. The Mystery Writers of America awarded Mystery Lovers and the owners in their 20th year for outstanding achievements and leadership contributions to the mystery genre with the Raven Award.