Tillie Myers, 75, of Arlington, VA, died due to complications from MDS (a blood cancer) on September 19, 2022 in Sarasota, FL surrounded by her family.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland to Jake and Peggy Radin as Matilda, after her late grandmother, no one ever remembers her calling her anything but Tillie. Her early years were marked by long hours practicing piano and cello, requiring her to bring the large cello on the public bus to and from school. Tillie was a remarkable student who excelled in school and left home at age 16 to begin college at Boston University studying social work.
Her early 20s were characterized by travel and eventually, Tillie settled down in an apartment share in Capitol Hill, DC. Despite being a seasoned traveler, she once left her expensive designer boots and clothes in an unlocked locker while swimming. When she returned to the locker, she had to quickly figure out how to get home in only her jacket as everything else was gone. During a rather nondescript trip to Central Liquors she needed a wine bottle “too high” for her to reach so she asked the guy next to her for help. That guy was Carl, her dear husband of 39 years who, turns out, was not any taller than she. They moved in Arlington, Virginia, where they eventually got married in the house they lived in for over 30 years. Not only did she decorate and masterfully renovate the house several times, but they also raised their only daughter Sarah in it.
She was a woman of multiple, very varied, and successful careers starting as a social worker (10+ years) to telecommunication sales (20+ years) and finally a personal trainer (5+ years). While different in industry, each career took advantage of her unique skill to form deep and meaningful bonds with people, which motivated every facet of her being.
In addition to making bonds with people from her professional life, Tillie’s life drew meaning from her deep and long lasting friendships from various phases of her life. Her other love was for animals, namely hers including countless mainly orange kitties, three boxers, and a rescue pup - though never more than three animals at a time.
Ever the health enthusiast, there was never a walk too short, or a yoga pose “too easy” for Tillie to master. On second thought, there actually WERE walks too short AND yoga poses too easy for her… but who’s counting? Right up until the end, Tillie and Gypsy, her most recent rescue dog, took many long walks in sunny Sarasota. These walks were perhaps sometimes too long for a little less health enthused Gypsy. During the end of her life, Tillie even used her sales tactics and people skills to convince her hospital nurses into walking “just one more lap” around the hospital floor. She also enjoyed putting her impressive flexibility to the test, seen doing unattainable yoga poses for most mere mortals (think inversions) as late as February 2022.
Ever the sun worshipper – Tillie may or may not have employed a sun reflector in Boston Commons in February during her college years – Tillie and Carl would eventually retire to her favorite place in the world, Sarasota, Florida. Sick of the DC cold winters, their frequent visits morphed into them finally making the place their home for six months out of the year. There was nothing Tillie enjoyed more than gazing out over her beautiful pool and well-manicured gardens with the sun on her skin, while calling her friends up North to inquire about the January weather.
Tillie is survived by her husband, Carl; her daughter, Sarah; her sister, Janet; her dog, Gypsy; and an exceedingly long list of friends.
A celebration of life and reception will be held on Saturday, April 15th at Noon in Falls Church, VA. Please reach out to Sarah to RVSP and for details.
For online tributes, please visit www.rtsfunerals.com
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