Alice Glynos Tunks

Alice “Lily” Glynos Tunks was born on July 15th, 1933 at home in Vélizy-Villacoublay, near Versailles in France. She grew up during World War II, during which time her family would move from Versailles to Lyon, and finally back near Paris in her adolescence. Although Lily was very young during the toughest years of the war, she remembered her father dropping her off at a camp where she could be better fed than at home, and her older sister acting as a bike messenger for the Resistance, carrying secret messages at great risk. When the family returned from Lyon, they found that their home in Vélizy had been used as a headquarters for the Red Cross during their absence. Although the children were raised in France, her parents were Greek, and the family would return every summer to Greece after the end of the war.

Of her childhood, Lily would recount tales of acting out stories in the attic with her sister, skipping gym classes at school, and of her first time getting accidentally drunk, by going around and sipping the dregs of guests’ wine glasses at a wedding she attended. Despite her dislike of gym, Lily loved school in general and was an excellent student. She graduated from the Sorbonne University in Paris in 1953, before earning a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study abroad in the United States. As a Fulbright Scholar, Lily met President Harry Truman and traveled throughout the midwest to speak to civic groups about French culture and history. She earned two Master of Arts degrees, the first from Northwest Missouri State College in 1955 and another from UMKC in 1961. It was at UMKC that Lily met Donald Tunks, whom she married on December 26th, 1961. Coming from France, Lily had different ideas of chivalry and modern relationships than her husband Don, and the two told the story of how their relationship barely made it past the first date because Don wanted to pay and Lily insisted on splitting the bill.

Lily and Don settled in a house in Mission Hills, Kansas. It was in this home that their children, Marina and John, would grow up and that the couple would spend the rest of their lives. Lily became a United States citizen on March 18th, 1965 and went on to obtain her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1970, with a focus on 20th century French drama. She was a Professor of French at Rockhurst University from 1969-1999, where she served many years as Chair of Modern Languages and directed the Study Abroad program.

Over the course of thirty years, Lily’s office in Sedgwick (lined floor to ceiling with books) became a hub of intellectual curiosity, conversation, and connection. Lily was known for her warmth, wit, and class, and carried herself with a quiet grace and humility. In her early days at Rockhurst, she ruffled a few feathers by hosting a faculty party where she served wine, and by once approving a student slogan advertising study abroad as “study a broad.” She was always quick to make a joke, and everywhere she went she was complimented on her impeccable taste and sense of style. Lily didn’t just teach French, she brought it to life, inspiring generations of students to explore the world and embrace new cultures. Upon her retirement, she was named professor emerita in recognition of her extraordinary service and enduring impact.

Not only was she a wonderful professor, Lily truly devoted her life to her family and was an incredible mother and grandmother. She taught her children and grandchildren Greek mythology, philosophy, theatre, poetry, literature, and language. Lily herself spoke Greek, French, and English, and was very involved with the Greek Orthodox Church and community in Kansas City, where she was affectionately known as Aliki. Along with her husband, Lily spearheaded the founding of Kansas City’s Alliance Française and worked to bring many French artists and cultural experiences to KC.

Lily and Don were patrons of the arts, and loved to bring the family to plays, ballets, and operas, as well as vacations to France and their favorite destinations in Colorado and the Caribbean. She spoiled her granddaughters and loved to plan shopping trips and lunches, where she would drive them around in her sporty light blue convertible. Lily had a way of making everything fun and exciting, and could make the smallest moment special. She read French bedtime stories as if they were grand epics, and long summer afternoons were often spent by her pool with granddaughters nearby and Don barbecuing. She always had a homemade cherry or apple tart ready to serve at family dinners, and every day after school she’d treat her granddaughters to sweets like baguette with butter and chocolate or strawberries doused in sugar and cream. Lily was known to insist that everyone borrow sweaters and slippers in her home–she was never convinced that everyone was warm enough or well-fed enough. If she wasn’t preparing snacks in the kitchen, you could find her in her garden with her roses.

Lily was truly the matriarch of our family, and she and Don were both wonderful hosts and connectors of people. They cultivated a beautiful life in Kansas City and will be missed by so many. Lily was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents Constantin and Hariklia (Carolina), brothers Jeanneau and Nico, and sister Hélène (Glynos) Riddle. She is survived by her daughter Marina (Tunks) Ganter, son-in-law Alexis Ganter, son John Tunks, daughter-in-law Susie Tunks, 4 granddaughters (Emma Tunks, Zoë Ganter, Naia Tunks, and Charlotte Ganter). She and Don left a beautiful legacy to their family, and we are comforted that they have been reunited in Heaven. May her memory be eternal.

"Il y a longtemps que je t’aime, Jamais je ne t’oublierai." —Chanson traditionnelle

Services for Alice will be held Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 12001 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. The funeral service will follow from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A reception will continue services at the church from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. With a committal service concluding services at 2:00 PM at Mount Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Alice's memory may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 12001 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.