Lilly Thal Warnick

1934 - 2018

Lilly Thal Warnick

Lilly Thal Warnick, 84, longtime Tacoma resident, died October 21, 2018 in Tacoma. Survived by her husband of 65 years, Jack; four children, Todd (Minette), Mark, Lisa Fein (Warren), and Craig (Janet); seven grandchildren, Michal, Alon, Gil, Ben, and Elliana Warnick, and Samuel and Jacob Fein; and two brothers, Dr. Sam Thal and Dr. Ben Thal. Predeceased by her parents, Ariel and Mariossel Thal, and two brothers, Dr. Nathan Thal and Sidney Thal.

Lilly was born February 9, 1934, in Vancouver, Canada. She moved to the United States when she was 3 years old, where her family joined the large community of immigrant Lithuanian Jews in Bellingham. She was the youngest of five children and the only girl, adored by her parents and siblings. She, along with her brothers, helped her parents navigate the challenges of immigrants with limited English skills, translating and explaining documents and school messages - she was 10 years old when she coached them in preparation for their U.S. citizenship examinations. Lilly graduated from Bellingham High School, where she participated in a wide range of school activities, including journalism, theater, student government and playing the violin in the school orchestra. She maintained lifelong friendships with many of her childhood friends. As a high school junior, she won a regional public-speaking contest and was selected to address 10,000 guests at a U.S.-Canada Peace Arch anniversary celebration at the border in Blaine.

Lilly attended the University of Washington and met her husband and lifelong partner Jack Warnick during her freshman year. They were married the following summer, in 1953, immediately following his graduation, and moved to his native Tacoma, where they raised their family. As the mother of four young children, Lilly returned to college at the age of 31, starting with a UW correspondence course, studying while her youngest children napped. She eventually returned to school full-time and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound. She began her career as an English teacher at Jason Lee Jr. High School and then taught English at Charles Wright Academy. Eager to become an administrator, she was one of 10 women from four Western states selected to join a UPS graduate program for women, "Project Upward Mobility." After receiving her master's degree, she started a 25-year career in education administration. Serving as Assistant in Planning and Development for the Tacoma Public Schools, she launched the Gifted and Humanities Programs and developed the first district-wide program for gifted students. She then worked at Tacoma Community College, first as the director of a new Cooperative Education program allowing students to earn credits for on-the-job learning experiences and later as Assistant to the President for College Development. While working, she earned a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Philanthropy from The Union Institute in Cincinnati.

Lilly's devotion to Tacoma was enormous. She co-founded the City Club of Tacoma, serving as its first president and helping grow the organization to 600 members within its first six months; became the first director of the Tacoma Community College Foundation and was especially proud of establishing its still-flourishing "First Generation Scholarship" program; and co-founded both Tacoma's Second City Chamber Series and, with her husband, Tacoma's Sister-City relationship with Kiryat Motzkin, Israel. She headed the Tacoma Library Board, avidly supported the Max Aronoff Viola Institute, and served as a member of the Tacoma Arts Commission, Pacific Science Center Education Supporters, the Martin Luther King Scholarship advisory committee, and the Temple Beth El Sisterhood, among other community activities. The Business Examiner of the South Sound recognized her in 2010 with its Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement award. She continued playing the violin until weeks before her death.

Her devotion to the community was surpassed only by her love for her family. She cherished celebrating holidays and life events that brought together her children and grandchildren, usually scattered in various cities and countries, along with other relatives and friends. She possessed a fabulous sense of humor and loved both Jackie Mason and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." She eagerly connected with people of all ages, from her 5-year-old granddaughter to friends of seven decades in their 90s, and enthusiastically enjoyed reading, knitting, bridge, theater, music, traveling, shopping, and cheering her children and grandchildren during basketball games and music recitals. In 2016, based solely on uninformed guessing, she won an NCAA basketball pool with more than 80 entrants, and then bought a pair of diamond-studded earrings with the winnings. Lilly lived a long and wonderful life and shared 65 years of a loving marriage. She will be missed beyond words.

A funeral service has been held.

Donations may be made to the Temple Beth El Music Fund and the Tacoma Community College First Generation Scholarship Fund.