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David J. Gorman, a Biglerville man known for his athletic accomplishments and for mentoring young athletes in pole vaulting, died Saturday night in an accidental drowning at a private residence.
Adams County Deputy Coroner Francis Dutrow Jr. said the autopsy Sunday confirmed the cause of death was drowning. Gorman had no history of health problems and was in good health, Dutrow said.
Gorman, 54, participated in wrestling, track and field and football at Biglerville High School. As quarterback, he led the Canners' football squad to a Blue Mountain League championship.
"He was a good quarterback, called all his own plays," said Jack Emanuel, Gorman's football coach. "I was head coach, but when I had a kid like that, I let him call his own plays."
The 1972 graduate also set a high school record in pole vaulting that still stands 37 years later, said his younger brother, Thomas Gorman of Littlestown.
"In his nephew's words, he was a ridiculous athlete," Thomas Gorman said.
Thomas Gorman said he and his brother would go on skiing trips with friends, many of whom David Gorman met through Ed's Ski Shop in York. A group of about 20 would regularly ski together.
"He just had so many friends whenever he went anywhere," Thomas Gorman said.
After college, David Gorman spent 20 years away from the sport of pole vaulting, filling his time with skiing and taking up cycling in 1983. Ten of those years were spent living in Sun Valley, Idaho, working at ski shops
As a cyclist, he participated in Bike Across America and was one of the few to complete the entire course without missing a mile, Thomas Gorman said. Most recently, David Gorman taught a cycling class at the YWCA of Gettysburg and Adams County.
But teaching was not new to David Gorman, who returned to pole vaulting in the late '90s as both a coach and an athlete.
"He just formed his life around all of his activities," Thomas Gorman said.
In 2007, David Gorman competed in national competition and tied for 22nd in the USA Masters Track and Field for the age group 50 to 54. With his brother, Steven Gorman, he co-founded the Heritage Vault Club, and he also served as a consultant and assistant coach for the Gettysburg High School track and field team.
Through both of these endeavors, David Gorman coached and mentored a number of young athletes, including Lindsay Kopenhaver and DeDe Golden, both of Hanover High School, as well as his two nephews, Tyler, 26, and Kyle, 22, who pole vaulted at Littlestown High School.
"Kids love him because he's always positive," said Jack Harbaugh, the Gettysburg High School track and field coach. "He was a real inspiration to the kids."
According to Harbaugh, David Gorman would have the pole vaulters over to his home for get-togethers on Wednesday nights. David and Steven Gorman were instrumental in making pole vaulting into a true extracurricular activity instead of just something to do after school hours, Thomas Gorman said. Students traveled from Dauphin County, Harrisburg and Altoona to participate in workshops.
"He had the kids' respect, and they liked him so they kept doing it. So, they jumped until it was too cold to jump and started as soon as it was warmer," Thomas Gorman said.
David Gorman was always willing to help out aspiring vaulters, Hanover track and field coach Tara Bahn said.
"He was very open to letting anyone come and work with him," she said. "Although not a (team) coach, he worked with Lindsay (Kopenhaver). He definitely had a big impact on the pole vaulters."
"He didn't push people hard, because he didn't have to. He just brought the best out of them," Thomas Gorman said. "He was 5-foot-4 and just a solid stick of dynamite."
