Janet Helen Tolan Gamble

Anchorage resident Janet Helen Tolan Gamble, the second of five children born to Thomas E. Tolan and Nellie Richardson Tolan in Calvert, Texas, on May 15, 1915, died in Anchorage on Sept. 9, 2009. She was 94. A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel, with a funeral at noon Wednesday at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Alonzo B. Patterson will officiate. Fondly known as "Mom Gamble" by her many adopted children, friends and church members, Helen was educated in the Dallas school system and obtained a nursing certificate after graduation. She met and married the love of her life, Toby Gamble, in 1949 and arrived in Alaska in 1952 to start a new adventure and make lifelong contributions to the state of Alaska and the Anchorage community. Helen was an activist and an outspoken woman who believed she could achieve anything she put her mind to. For many years she was the "chief nurse" in the office of Dr. Milo Fritz and remained with him until he moved his practice out of Anchorage. She later began work for the State of Alaska at the Department of Labor as an employment specialist, using her skill and training as a good listener and writer to help job seekers reach their employment goals. During this time, she observed that very few minorities were taking advantage of the job center and convinced the department to allow her to start a program she called "minority outreach" at the Fairview Recreation Center. A second program was later opened at the Spenard Recreation Center. The response to her efforts was overwhelming and much appreciated by the participants, helping several hundred people over the course of the program find advancement, careers and well-paying jobs. Years after her retirement, many of those she helped kept in touch with her and always thanked her for pushing them to be and do their best. Because of her persistence and determination in everything she touched, Helen was honored and acknowledged for her work. She received over 200 awards and citations, including the Mayor's Award for Public Service, North to the Future BPW Legislative Award, State of Alaska Citation, Blacks in Government Exception Service Award, and the AARP Service to Community award, to name a few. She was presented with the Meritorious Service Award by the University of Alaska Anchorage during commencement in May 2000. She was also the first black chair of Church Women United, chair of the OIC Board in Anchorage, chair of the State of Alaska Older Alaskans Commission, Anchorage Senior Center Board and Alaska Children Services boards. With a lifetime of service to her community, Helen was most fervent in her belief in God and devotion to her church family at Shiloh. She cherished her "seat" in the second row where she could "keep an eye" on the Rev. Patterson. In her later years, she most enjoyed the senior study group and was often dressed and ready to go hours before the meeting time. It was only her failing health that stopped her from attending church services and Sunday school, where she was a senior deaconess and teacher/trainer, designing and teaching the curriculum for deaconates. One of her most cherished events was signing her absentee ballot to vote for Barack Obama for president. From her bedside with pen in hand, she made her "X" with a smile. Helen was preceded in death by her husband and best friend, Toby; her parents; sisters, Florine and Marion; and brothers, Stenson and David Lee. Helen and Toby had no natural children, but to the many who called her "Mom," she will be sorely missed. She also leaves her niece, Evelyn Franklin (Lannie) of Los Angeles; nephew, Henry Dorsey Stewart (Mary) of Roseville, Calif.; nephew, Robert (Bobby) Tolan of Belaire, Texas; nieces, Wynter Rose Sterling and Ladrina Breaux of Los Angeles; and many friends around the world.