Mrs. Toni Hooks Kasko

Toni Roeberthia Hooks Kasko came into this world on July 22, 1943 and left this world on June 18, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, her husband John, her four siblings and four siblings in law, many aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and her beloved daughter Catherine. She is survived by her daughter Anna and grandchildren Aidan and Grey, many nieces and nephews, and cousins and friends. Toni was born at home in Onancock, VA. Her family had recently moved from Alabama and her mother carried her there, in utero, by train, along with her four older siblings. They then moved to Chincoteague, VA. At 14 months old, she contracted polio. Despite living on an island with four siblings in school, she was the only one. She was initially treated in Warm Springs, GA, the same place as president Roosevelt. After that, most of her care was at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia, where she developed her love of city life. It would be amiss to not mention the strength of her mother who sought out and arranged her exceptional care. In her early 20s, she moved to Baltimore and began a career as a computer programmer, which was very rare for a woman at that time. In 1970, she married John Kasko, whom she had met at work. She not only sewed her own wedding dress, but also the dresses of her 5 bridesmaids. In 1972 she welcomed her daughter Catherine and in 1976 her daughter Anna. She paused her career and stayed home to care for her daughters and also many other children, who remain part of our family to this day. She went back to work in 1998 and had a successful career at Maryland Casualty, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the State of Maryland. She retired at the young age of 70. She was ecstatic to have grandchildren Aidan in 2005 and Grey in 2009 and doted on them ridiculously. She took them to her favorite places including the Aquarium, Science Center, the zoo, the Walters Art Museum, and the Hippodrome Theater. She loved art and especially theater. She lived an amazing life. She never let her disability define her. She was not phased by labels. She was fond of saying she was called crippled, then disabled, then differently abled, but none of these changed what she could or could not do. She was bold, and fiery, and sassy. She had an opinion about everything and was quick to let you know it. She fought not only for herself, but for everyone that was seen as “less than”. If you would care to send a remembrance, please donate to Center Stage or Everyman Theater, or any local arts organization you support. A memorial service will be held in the future to celebrate her life.

Mrs. Toni Hooks Kasko

July 22, 1943 - June 18, 2025