A Life Story

Lively Birth December 17, 1938Last Breath December 7, 2024Tonnie would have liked for her obituary to declare her, "The Oldest Woman in the World!" But, as she was unable to control everything, she traded time for eternity on December 7th to embark on the MOST exhilarating trip of her life to the next world.Tonnie was born in White Plains NY on December 17, 1938, and grew up in Dearborn, Michigan. At the University of Colorado, she majored in Education and minored in skiing, graduating with a B.A. in Education. She married and lived on the North Shore of Chicago. Tonnie was a member of the Baha'i Faith and believed in the progressive revelation of God's prophets.In 1974, Tonnie and her daughters moved to New Jersey. She completed her education with a B.S. in Nursing and M.Ed. in Education from Rutgers University.Tonnie had an exciting 40-year career as a nurse in a variety of settings--ICU, ER, and Rehabilitation Nursing. She was fortunate to have had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many. She really cared for people and wanted the absolute best for everyone she knew. As she would straighten out your throw rug or remind you to use the handrail, she often said, "You cannot take the nurse out of me."Additionally, she created and taught the NJ Paramedic Program for 20 years (1981 – 2001) at Union County College in Cranford, NJ. In the evenings and weekends after working 9-5 in the hospital, she educated more than 800 paramedic students during that time. She was in the first class of paramedics to be certified in NJ in 1976 and her state certification number was #12.A person at home in many environments, Tonnie was never as happy as when she was with her husband Mort, whom she married in 1984. They were happily married for more than forty years and enjoyed skiing, golf, traveling, the same television shows, football of any kind, and love. She often said some of their best times were spent on the couch in the evenings watching TV together. Tonnie and Mort retired to The Landings in Savannah in 2004. She became the "Welcome Lady" in The Landings in 2007 and enjoyed calling on new residents with her Welcome Package. She called on more than 175 new residents each year and enjoyed the opportunity of making them feel welcomed.Her creative hobbies were beading, bridge, cooking, crafts and creating art out of discarded materials. Her home was a tribute to her many creative talents. She was well known for her unique jewelry, beaded pictures, forest, flying carpets, mosaic faces in frying pans and mosaic 40" by 60" tiles on her porch! She enjoyed working in many mediums and abstract art was her love.Tonnie was gifted with a generous spirit and for making sure everybody had a good time. Her home was always open to everyone, and she loved entertaining her friends. She was known for her sense of style, which was always apparent in her interior design and events she and her husband hosted in their home. They hosted as many as 40 friends each Thanksgiving as they did not want anyone to celebrate alone.Tonnie was fiercely independent self-starter with boundless energy. She was always very active… a workaholic and playaholic. People who knew her could say she had two speeds … fast and asleep!She did not fear death, rather thought of it as the next adventure life gives us. She believed that one should waste no time and get all the juice out of each day of life. She felt that life wasn't a journey to the grave, but an exhilarating personal experience arriving in the next world thoroughly used up and totally worn-out shouting, "What a Ride!"She valued knowledge and was an avid reader of magazines, newspapers, and many books on history, the world wars, inventors, and interesting people who, like her, truly left their mark on the world. One Tonnie "badge of honor" was to receive an envelope filled with writings, clippings, sent to you from "The Tonnie Files." It meant the world to know she thought of you and took the time to collect and mail these interesting artifacts.She was outspoken and apologized to anyone she offended when she interrupted them as she did not always hear very well.Tonnie will be missed by those she encountered, but we can look back over her life and remember the smiles, laughter, and passion she brought to those she touched. Anyone who knew her surely knows she lived her life to the fullest and would strongly encourage us all to do the same. She was known to be caring, classy, highly driven, crazy adventurous, brutally honest and "out there."She left her mark of excellence on whatever task she undertook, but it is in the hearts of her family where she left her greatest legacy. Tonnie is survived by her husband, Mort Glick; four accomplished and successful loving daughters, Juli (Kevin) Redson-Smith of Denver CO, Cathy Redson of Richmond VA, Jennifer (Carsten) Wiebers of Limassol, Cyprus, and Lisa (Richard) Cook of San Leandro CA; two outstanding stepsons David Glick of New York NY, and Daniel Glick of Tuxedo Park NY; seven grandchildren, Gwen (Joe) Kramer, Nate (S'vea) Smith, Clara-Lisa (Finn) Wilming, Caio Wiebers, Emily Wiebers, Riley Cook and Gregory Cook; and four great-grandchildren, Jaya Kramer, Ella Kramer, Evangeline Kramer and Avalina Smith. She is also survived by three sisters, Judy (Peter) Jensen, Jennifer (Elio) Zarmati and Roxane (Paul) Scott.Her family wishes to express their appreciation and thanks to her doctors, nurses and caregivers.In lieu of flowers, please do a kindness for others in her honor. Remembrances can be sent to St. Jude Hospital for Children in memory of Tonnie Glick. Arrangements are being made through Fox and Weeks Funeral Home. Family and close friends will have a private graveside service and burial on December 11th.Her exit was a joyful event. So… PLEASE … never let Her Light Go Dim and Rejoice as we forever remember the Radiance of her Spirit. Friends are welcome to join the family for a "FUN"eral and Celebration of Life. Tonnie envisioned this memorial event to be bright and colorful with no one dressed in black and everyone wearing a funny hat. The party will be from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12 at the guest shelter at Skidaway Island State Park, 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah GA 31411.