Q: I know you’re not from Berks, so I must ask, where are you from?
Well, that’s more complicated than you might imagine. I last lived in Springfield, Missouri, for 28 years. Growing up, my father was in the military so we moved around a lot. In fact, we never lived anywhere longer than a year or two. I was born in Kansas and, as a child, lived in New Mexico, California – I think we lived on almost every military base in the western half of the country.
Q: Do you have a favorite place you lived during that time?
Oh yes, Germany. My mother was from Germany and we lived on a base there, close to her parents and other family. I have many wonderful memories of that time. I used to speak fluent German.
Q: Since you’ve experienced life in so many places, I wonder how Berks compares for you.
I really like the history here. As you drive, you can see it in homes and homesteads that have been around for centuries. In the Midwest and California everything is new, so it’s fascinating to see the past. I also love the farmers markets, except I want to buy and eat everything! I also enjoy Berks County’s locally-owned restaurants because chains are so common out west.
Q: I know your work is intense and demanding, so what’s your favorite way to relax?
My favorite thing to do is just be with Chris. We have many good friends and like to be involved in our church, but we’re homebodies. We have a house on Table Rock Lake in southern Missouri – we plan to retire there – and it is our place. We usually go four to five times a year, but this summer we didn’t because of my cancer.
Q: It has been a rough year for you. How did you persevere, and how are you now?
It was rough. It was a rare, genetic form of uterine cancer, but surgery revealed it hadn’t spread, and I finished chemo in September. I’m getting back to myself. Chris was amazingly supportive, and I also had many kind, wonderful people cheering me on. Albert [Boscov] checked on me every day; he’d kiss me on each cheek and say, “I need you, Toni. You can’t go anywhere.” Before cancer, I lost my only child. He died when he was only 21. Chris and I had to accept it and find a new normal. We’ve had to do a version of that again with cancer. We are faithful people and believe in the power of positivity.
Q: As you close a difficult year, what’s your hope for 2016?
That I can continue to make a difference for others, to volunteer, mentor and help people realize their full potential. I want to share my experiences and raise up another generation of leaders and show that, in adversity, it’s how we deal with fear and challenge that matters.
