Alicia Koninska Ashman was born in Syracuse, New York, on July 18, 1923, to Edward and Stanislawa (Tomaszewska) Koninski. She became a Registered Nurse in 1945, graduating from Kings County's School of Nursing in Brooklyn. She worked as a nurse in the eye department of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 1945 and 1947. On April 28, 1945, Alicia married Dr. Hubert C. Ashman, who worked in the Medical School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later became a member of Board of Health. The Ashmans had four children.
Alicia Ashman served as an alderwoman in the city of Madison, Wisconsin from 1968 to 1977. During that time, she worked closely with Mayor Otto Festge, Paul Soglin, and William Dyke, and served on more than 30 civic committees, including estimates, parks, welfare, library, re-development, equal opportunities, and housing. She also served as the President of the Common Council in 1974. At the same time, she was the co-¬founder of the 10th District Association in Madison and also a member of Capital Community Citizens (CCC) in the 1960s, which was the first citizens group concerned with planning and development problems in the Madison metropolitan area. Because of her exceptional contributions to this organization, she received Capital Community Citizens' Orchid Award in 1970.
She was also deepy involved in the League of Women Voters, Dane County, and paid close attention to elections even after her terms of office concluded. She served as president of the Madison Public Library Board between 1989 and 1996. In honor of her work and accomplishments, the Alicia Ashman Branch Library on the west side of Madison was dedicated in her name in 2000.
Alicia Ashman died in Madison, Wisconsin on September 26, 2016.
