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PORTLAND – Toby Des Roches of Industry, 84, died peacefully on June 26, 2008, at Maine Medical Center in Portland after a brief illness.
Toby was born Yvonne Catherine Stone in 1924 in Chicago, the daughter of Arthur R. Stone and Mary Holbrook Stone. Her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1931, where Toby lived until her marriage. She was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Class of 1942 (one of the top high schools in the country) and remained in touch with her favorite classmates there until her death. She attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where her sorority sisters dubbed her “Toby,” a name which stuck with her for the rest of her life.
In 1946 Toby married Doc DesRoches of Mexico, ME, a 10th Mountain Division veteran and a ski industry pioneer, and learned how to ski. They worked side-by-side in ski area management at Laurel Mountain Slopes in Ligonier, PA, from 1946 to 1963. Toby taught skiing, always staying one lesson ahead of her students, and raised four children. From 1965-1981 Toby worked alongside Doc at Ski Industries America, the national trade association of manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer ski products; Toby was SIA’s Trade Show Manager until her retirement.
She traveled the world for business and pleasure, the highlights of her travel being several Winter Olympic Games and trips to England and Ireland. When she “retired,” she moved to Clearwater Lake in Industry and helped Doc develop the UMF Ski Industry Program. Toby was president of the Franklin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, taught skiing at Titcomb, and brought carloads of children to Sugarloaf every week for years, skiing well into her 70s. Toby had a life-long interest in music, theatre, history and politics, and remained a voracious reader throughout her life. She was very active in the Gold Leaf Institute. Toby loved most of all to be at the lake, enjoying her flowers, watching the loons, and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Toby was predeceased by her husband Doc and by her sister Ruth Stone of New Orleans, LA. She is survived by her sister Beverly Lobo and husband Simon of Bellevue, Nebraska; daughter Laurel Lashar and husband Jeff of Carrabassett Valley; daughter Alexis Des Roches of Industry; daughter Aimee Des
Roches of New Sharon; and son Alec Des Roches and wife Debbie of Fairfax, VA; granddaughters Noelle Farrington and husband Kendall of Chesterville; Kara Cochrane and husband Tobyn of Gilbert, AZ; and Melissa Walker of New Sharon; grandsons Jay Lashar and companion Meg McKissick of Hilton Head, SC; Micah Lashar of Waitsfield, VT; Garrett Lashar of Louden, NH; Nick Des Roches and Jake Des Roches of Fairfax, VA; three beautiful great-granddaughters, Heather Farrington and Anna and Kate Cochrane; and a terrific great-grandson, Kyle Farrington. She is also survived by brother-in-law Gene Roy of Jay and sisters-in-law Rita Des Roches of Maryland and Terry Des Roches of California. And Dandy, a very special poodle, misses her greatly.
A celebration of her life will be held at noon on Saturday, August 9, lakeside at Toby’s Clearwater home. Call the family for details, 778-4510. The family would appreciate cards sent to 20 Clearwater Pond Road, Industry, ME 04938. Toby requested flowers, cut or to plant, for her last party.
