Christopher Dennis Horman
Christopher Dennis “Topher” Horman loved streamer cannons, souvenir cups, fog machines, and any way to create a scene. He died May 11, 2024 at fifty-two, and was gone too soon.
Born May 19, 1971 to Winkie and Dennis Horman in Salt Lake City, Topher had an idyllic childhood filled with trips to Disneyland, boating on Lake Powell and running around Cottonwood Mall. A graduate of the Cottonwood High class of 1989, he especially loved senior year, when he led the busy social life of a cheerleader. After graduation he moved briefly to New York City before serving on an LDS mission to Lisbon, Portugal. When he returned, he studied at the University of Utah, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications.
During these years Topher also worked as a trainer and travel agent for FunJet and Morris Air, which kickstarted a lifelong love of getting his passport stamped in as many countries as he could. He chased every opportunity and ended up in far-flung places that fed his exuberant spirit for adventure, and shared his love of seeing the world with family – one of his fondest memories was traveling with his mother to Turkey, where they haggled at bazaars and tea shops earning the respect of sellers for their shrewd skills.
A life-long Utah Utes football and all around sports fan (he played in a Fantasy Football League before the internet), he landed a job with Bowl Games of America, where he worked on the production of college half-time shows and parades. Topher traveled to almost every stadium, ballpark and arena in the US unfurling giant American flags and working on pregame shows for MLB, NFL, NHL, etc. He would hype up the opportunity of being part of the pageantry to hundreds of volunteers hoping they would love it as much as he did, then hurry to the stands to be part of the cheering crowd. Truly a fan of every city and every team. He researched every city he visited, getting to know local culture and learning about unique or historic spots to eat or explore. It made him a joy to travel with. He loved bringing back souvenirs, coins and stories to impress his nieces and nephews, and later his three kids.
In 1999, his sister Christina introduced him to Aimee Bateman, and they married in 2003. Over the next five years they welcomed their children Tabitha, Theodore and Freddy into the world. Topher absolutely adored being a dad.
As their young family began building a life in Sugar House, Topher threw his big-idea spirit into many creative pursuits. He wrote, directed, edited and produced a full-length movie, which garnered the attention and a job as the Operations Director at Utah Film Center, he ran for city council, was instrumental in creating the Sugar House Time Capsule, and he dreamed up incredible crowd experiences for Salt Lake’s New Year’s ‘Eve’ event – like filling a ballroom with 2,000 beachballs and disco lights. He was assistant race director for the SLC Marathon, presented on crowd semiotics at TEDx SLC, and grew the Utah Arts Festival’s “Fear No Film” program into the internationally recognised and respected program it is today. However, the work he was most proud of was raising money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through digital storytelling. He poured his passion into his endeavors and made a positive impact at every place he worked.
In the last few years, Topher struggled with mental health issues which ultimately took his life. To honor Topher, please care for your mental and physical health, and love those around you fiercely.
Topher was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Winkie. He is survived by Aimee, Tabi, Theo, and Freddy Horman; by his best friend and father, Dennis Horman; by his sisters Klea (Andrea), Nanette (Jack), Natalie (Eric), and Christina (Dustin); and by his nieces and nephew Gracie, Molly (Chad), Rose, Henry, Cait, and Klea, as well as a large loving extended family and countless friends.
A celebration of Topher’s big life will be on Saturday, August 10 from 5-8 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance located on the north side of the building. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to NAMI Utah.