Toni McBride Tribute

Toni McBride 1960 - 2004
Toni began her professional career in Cornell's Department of Athletics & Physical Education in 1985. She served as trainer for several sports including men's soccer and men's basketball. In 1988, she worked part-time as coordinator of the Wellness Pilot Program. In the fall of 1989, Toni became the first full-time director of Cornell's Wellness Program until she left the University eleven years later to become the proprietor of the Danby General Store. Toni considered that to be her dream job - being her own boss, mingling with all sorts of folks on a daily basis, getting to wear jeans and a cap every day to work, and taking a business which had fallen on hard times and making it into a viable community resource. Toni also took an active role in the Danby Volunteer Fire Department and served on various town committees.

Under Toni's direction, Cornell's Wellness Program grew from 30 people in the pilot program to over 1000 members. The Wellness Program touched thousands more through its blood pressure clinics, brown bag lunch series, the Humor Program, the bi-annual Health Expo and many more programs Toni initiated. We will all remember her boundless enthusiasm for life, incredible people skills, creativity, initiative and energy. She made an indelible mark on the Cornell community through her work with the Wellness Program and on the local community through her volunteer and business ventures.