Remembering Sandy Gorny

July-August 2025

Sandra “Sandy” Kay Gorny, 77 years of Bryan, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Parkview-Bryan Hospital, Bryan, Ohio. Sandy was born July 10, 1947, in Bryan, the daughter of the late Warren Edward and Alice Mae (Uran) Buchanan. She was a 1965 graduate of Bryan High School. Sandy married David “Toby” Neil Gorny on February 16, 1982, in Marion, Ohio, and he survives. Sandy was the owner/manager of the former Gorny-Winzeler Printing, Bryan. Previously, she was the owner of the Ford Parts Store. Sandy was the co-founder of the Crown Victoria Association and the Convention Coordinator of the Crown Victoria Association. Sandy enjoyed flower gardening, antique automobiles, and spending time with her family.

Surviving is her husband, Toby Gorny of Bryan; daughter, Kassie (Jack) Cain of Bryan; stepdaughter, Melissa (Stephen) Wheeler of Fargo, North Dakota; stepson, Bret (Renee) Gorny of Tuttle, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Shelby (Alex) Szakacs, Kylie (Brandon) Waterson, Brandon (Claire) Dean, Zachary (Erin) Dean, Austin Dean, Dustin Gorny, Hayley Gorny, Rebecca Van Vleet and Erik Van Vleet and four great-grandchildren; two siblings, Connie (Larry) Baughman and Mike (Karen) Buchanan; daughter-in-law, Chris Dean. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Scott Dean; one sister, Beverly Ruffer and nephew, Rick Ruffer.

A Gathering of family and friends was held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home, 206 North Lynn Street, Bryan. Memorial services for Sandy were held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in the funeral home with Pastor Scott Carlin officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions be made to St. Patrick Catholic School or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Tonda remembers Sandy:

My second time meeting Sandy was in 2007 at the Hunt Valley, MD convention. I knew she was the driving force in organization and control of handling anyone from the “rowdy loveable” guys, who gave her grief with their antics, children and teens in the dress up and hula hoop contests, and of course the infamous “Hoppy’s Ladies”.

Sandy’s grin while calling you to order with her stern voice, sometimes with the aid of her infamous blow horn, to get your attention to get on the tour buses or car line ups for driving tours, kept the CVA Family in check and on time. Working with her and Kandy on the planning of the 2011 convention in Williamsburg, VA, was fun times, even though I spent most of the convention in the hospital. But, no worries, Sandy had our backs during a difficult time. She always did from my point of view.

The conniving with others, to not be mentioned here, in 2014 to convince me that I would be great as the treasurer was well planned, as Sandy placed that call to me. Of course, you couldn’t say no to Sandy; she had her way in making you want to help and be more of a part of the CVA Family.

There are so many great memories in Hoppy’s 43 years and my 19 years as Crown Victoria Association members. I was blessed to have know her and have gained her trust and friendship.

Yes, Sandy was special in each of our lives in so many ways. She is and will be missed.

Jim Still remembers Sandy:

She will sure be missed… What a fun lady…

Sandy was like the head teacher or principal of our club, which is really just a bunch of guys & gals re-living the past with our cars.

But we needed her or someone important to “take charge” of everybody, organizing, keeping us from getting into trouble and helping around with whatever came up.

Now I personally liked her because she was always fun to aggravate and always took it in stride, with a come back or something to keep us straight.

Toby & Sandy along with Mick & Diana created a club that made lasting relationships between hundreds and hundreds of people.

Renè Still remembers Sandy:

Dearest CVA members, my fondest memories of Sandy Gorny include lots of laughter and love. Through the years when we brought our kids and either Sarah would be with Sandy and Toby and their granddaughter Shelby or Shelby would be with us. It was great knowing our kids were safe at every convention with all the members. I remember at business meetings and Jim and the other “boys” would make jokes cause a ruckus and Sandy took in stride and then finally when the “boys” went too far the school teacher in her would come out and put them in their place! But most of all my favorite memories will always be dancing together. Waiting for the band to play the Stroll, which I never seem to remember how it goes and I’d watch her to follow the steps! Until we can “stroll” again! Miss you, Love you!

Norman Horn remembers Sandy:

Without Sandy and Dinah backing up Toby and Mick, we wouldn’t have a club. Sandy at the helm with her bullhorn, giving people a little “urging” when they got out of line. She was a great motivator!

She was a great friend; we spent time together away from the club because we enjoyed each other’s company so much. I don’t know what more to say other than she will be greatly missed.

Kandy remembers Sandy:

I met Sandy when I was 13 years old; fortunately for me my own mother was a force of nature so she didn’t scare me…too much!

Over the years I came to love and respect Sandy, she was a force in this club and the world of antique Fords. As the voice behind the line at Ford Parts Store, the final say in all things convention and club business, she guided us forward, firmly and fairly.

While I was fortunate to see many loved ones at spring board meetings and be caught up on the goings on throughout the year, whether I was serving in some capacity or just hearing from my parents, good wishes and love were always sent to and from Sandy. Every year I would count down the days to Convention and seeing my summer family.

Whether it was the annual Olive Garden outing in Las Vegas, orchestrated by Sharon and Toby, hotel or registration room lunches because it was too busy to do something else, ice cream on convention planning trips or a good laugh over the phone, Sandy was always the best company and the most fun to spend time with.

Sandy didn’t suffer fools, she didn’t tolerate lazy or disorganized, she didn’t take crap off of anyone and at the same time she was so incredibly inclusive, loving and kind. We were so fortunate to have her at the helm of the club for so long.

Paul Placek remembers Sandy:

My relationship with Sandy Gorny started when I began as Editor of FoMoCo Times in July 1998. It was apparent to me that she was one of the big bosses within CVA. But I had to find that out for myself. Whenever she said to me “Don’t you think that…”(you fill it in), and she proceeded to tell me what to think. And usually, she was spot on. If I submitted something to print that was not be her liking, she might arbitrarily change it. So I’d cave, and find out her preference was fine. And I rarely bucked her, since that might be incurring the wrath of Sandy. And that was slightly more foolish then bucking the will of Moses, Abraham, and the prophets. And when I told her of my (her) decision, she’d say sweetly “that will do very nicely, don’t you think?” Sandy always chose the color on the front cover, and I had the wrong genes (being male) for that, so that was never a point of contention. Anyway, she did that very well, and I always liked the end result anyway. As I recently told Toby, I always considered Toby as the heart of CVA and Sandy was that heartbeat of CVA. Toby is a Fuzzy Bear, but Sandy was the Mama Bear of CVA. I always felt that bunker buster woe would fall of the head of anyone who tried to harm CVA.

One of Sandy’s indisputable legacies is the current condition in which she left CVA: competent officers, fiscally sound, dedicated members, a fun club, no infighting, a sense of purpose, and future plans. Sandy, I speak for all of us in saying that we salute you, cared about you, appreciated you, and respected you. We wish that you could still be with us.

I’d like to think that now that Sandy is in a better place, and the Big Boss up there now runs a tighter ship. If Sandy’s hand is on the rudder, Fords and Mercs rule the roads, the streets are paved with gold coins, and pearls on the pearly gates are mid-50’s colors. Sandy deserves the very best that the afterlife has to offer.

If Sandy could speak to us now from the grave, my prediction would be that she would advise us to do three things: (1) pay more attention to your families, (2) take your old car out of the garage and enjoy it while you can, and (3) do those things, and you’ll do very nicely.

Hoppy remembers Sandy:

Law and Order with Sandy

After years of hearing, inquiring, and finally tracking down the information, I called and spoke with Sandy and Toby about joining Crown Victoria Association in 1982. We had phones and pen and paper back then, no internet searches, etc., so word of mouth was how you found out things.

I actually met them in 1983 in Carlisle, PA and of course at my first convention in 1984 in Madison, WI. It didn’t take long until I was interested in being a convention host and worked with Sandy on mine and Kathy’s convention in 1991 in Fredericksburg, VA. Convention host was a lot of work back then, and a lot of time working with Sandy mainly.

Of course, I always dealt with Sandy and Toby, and Martha, on parts orders throughout the years. One year a bunch of the guys were complaining about Sandy and her Bullhorn. I plainly told them “the club would not be organized and what it is without Sandy’s law and order”. They agreed. Sandy got our attention many times with the Bullhorn to keep us on time and in order!

It was again mine and Tonda’s pleasure working with Sandy and Kandy on our 2011 convention in Williamsburg, VA.

Sandy was CVA, and we will continue to honor her and Toby with our efforts in keeping the “law and order” in security of the parking lot, order of the books, and friendships we value with each member old and new.