Cynthia Toohey

Apr 16, 1934 -

Jan 29, 2021

Longtime resident and true Alaskan Cynthia Toohey, 86, passed away peacefully on Jan. 29, 2021, at the Anchorage Pioneer Home. Born April 16, 1934, in New York City to Richard Jerome Goodwin and Elizabeth Thedford Waters, Toohey graduated from Julia Richman High School in 1953.

In 1957, Cynthia moved from New York City to Alaska with a letter of introduction to a stranger, a twinkle in her eye and a mission on her mind. At the time, men outnumbered women in the state about 2 to 1, so she believed the odds of finding a husband here were surely in her favor. She found that as well as a deep love of Alaska over the next 60-plus years.

In 1961, Cynthia's friend and roommate took her on the train to Talkeetna, where she met Barney Toohey at the Fairview Inn. Barney was an Iowa farm boy who came to Alaska looking for adventure in the north. The couple married in 1961 and honeymooned in Seldovia, falling in love with fishing and remaining there until the 1964 earthquake hit. From there they sought higher ground as they moved from town to town while Barney worked constructing docks, highways and buildings across the fledgling state, landing them in Kodiak, Trappers Creek and eventually Anchorage.

In 1969, the couple moved to Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood with three small children and began a pioneer life without running water, electricity or road access in the wintertime. Over the years they worked to restore the mine's historic buildings constructed originally in 1898.

In the meantime, Cynthia had started down a path of diverse professions, including as a stewardess with Reeve Aleutian Airlines flying in DC-3s to the most western islands of the state. She was also an emergency room nurse at Alaska Regional Hospital, worked in the Alyeska Resort Ski Patrol aid room, and as a tech medic on the trans-Alaska pipeline.

But Cynthia's favorite job was always being a small business owner of the Mine, where she was legendary for telling visitors, "yes we mine gold here, but we mainly mine the tourists." With her husky chuckle, Toohey was famous for showing visitors the two and a half ounce gold nugget on her neck, and then showing them the 32 revolver she wore on her hip as a warning to those who fantasized that it might look better on their own neck.

Toohey was passionate about public service and served on the Girdwood Board of Supervisors, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Alaska Regional Hospital Community Advisory Board. From 1993 to 1997, she served in the Alaska State House of Representatives, and over the course of four years, was responsible for the passage of eight bills including an anti-stalking law for which she was most proud.

Cynthia was an avid volunteer who worked with victims of domestic violence, rocked babies in the neo-natal care unit and volunteered at health fairs. As a breast cancer survivor, she worked to give strength to others whenever she could.

Over the course of her life, Cynthia left her mark on Alaskans across the state and beyond. To a person they would describe her as, "someone who exemplified the spirit of Alaska," "a lioness force not to be trifled with," "a lively and colorful person who was tough as nails and unapologetic about it," "she was one-of-a-kind" and "a dynamite person who did a lot of good and left the world a better place than she found it."

Cynthia's spunky personality often landed her in the limelight, and in 1982, she and her family's lifestyle at Crow Creek Mine were featured on Good Morning America. The lights and cameras would return for an encore with Cynthia's cameo role as a White House receptionist in the 2012 Disney movie "Big Miracle" and in Dave Barry's nationally syndicated column after his visit to Alaska in 1988. In his article Barry referred to the signs posted at the entrance of Crow Creek Mine stating: "No Shooting" and "No Fern Picking," and wrote; "I asked her if she'd ever had any trouble with bears, and she said, yeah, she had; but she seemed more concerned about the fern pickers."

Those who knew Cynthia, or Cindy - or Cinny, as she was also called - would not be surprised by that answer, as she was an avid gardener responsible for the many flower beds dispersed around the mine - gardens that visitors still enjoy today. She has asked that her ashes be scattered among them. The family is planning a celebration of life for later this year. The family also wants to express its appreciation to both the Providence Hospice of Anchorage and the Anchorage Pioneer Home for keeping Cynthia comfortable in her final days. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either one of those organizations.

Cynthia is survived by her sister, Liz Albertson-Vassar; her three children, Camden, Sean and Kate; and their children, Connor, Callum, Lilly, Olivia, Lola, Levi and Sophie.

Legend has it that those who leave this earth on a full moon, brought lots of light to earth during their time here. Cynthia died on the first full moon of 2021, aptly named the "Wolf Moon." May she rest in peace.

https://www.legacyalaska.com/obituaries/Cynthia-Darling-Toohey?obId=19864404#/obituaryInfo