Ric Monsarat has informed me that his friend, Toby Arian died on Monday, January 21st after a courageous battle with colon cancer.



FROM THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, Jan. 25th



Anchorage resident Toby Morton Arian, 64, died Jan. 21, 2008, of stomach cancer at Providence Alaska Medical Center. A private gathering is planned.

Toby was born Nov. 5, 1943, in Greensboro, N.C., to Rachel and Alfred Arian, both serving in the Army. He moved with his family to Memphis, Tenn., where he attended South Side and Central High schools, graduating in 1964. After two years at college he struck out on his own, landing in San Francisco where he became quite successful working as an art broker. He eventually opened his own gallery and moved between Las Vegas and San Francisco until his health would no longer permit.

After a series of health setbacks, he was urged to move to Anchorage three years ago.
As a young man he won the title of chess champion for the Memphis Mid-South region after many years as Best Marble Player. Later as an adult he became quite an expert at both poker and his real love, pool.

He is survived by a brother in New York City, an aunt in Florida and many dear friends in Alaska and California.

Published in the Anchorage Daily News from 1/25/2008 - 1/26/2008. •