Longtime GBMC Volunteer Celebrates 100th Birthday

A perfect gentleman.

That’s what folks at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson call Tom Garner, a longtime volunteer who turned 100 years old Wednesday.

“He’s always been a gentleman and someone you can rely on,” said Nickie Hilbert, volunteer auxiliary chair at the Corner Shop, GBMC’s gift shop where Garner volunteered alongside his wife, Sigrund.

Hilbert lived next door to the Garners at the Dulaney Towers Condominiums in Towson. She is one of many volunteers the couple recruited to serve at GBMC.

“Tom’s been a very faithful volunteer for over 20 years,” Hilbert said. “Well into his 90s, he was still climbing up the stool to put potato chips on the top shelf.”

Tom Garner, now a resident of the Maryland Masonic Home in Cockeysville, started volunteering at the Towson hospital in 1986 at his wife’s insistence.

“Sig wrote in the marriage contract that I needed to work at GBMC,” he joked.

Sigrund Garner, 94, became involved with GBMC over 25 years ago when her garden club decided to raise funds to improve the hospital’s grounds. She, and later her husband, have been fixtures ever since.

“It’s always something I wanted to be a part of,” she said.

In addition to his work at the Corner Shop, Tom Garner has volunteered at the cancer unit, at spiritual support services and at volunteer fundraisers.

“I didn’t consider it work,” he said. “It was my pleasure really to do the things I did.”

Tom Garner, who also had a 45-year sales career with International Paper, has donated nearly 5,000 hours over 23 years at GBMC.

“He is the consummate volunteer,” said Raylene Backstrom, manager of the Corner Shop. “He’s always been very committed to GBMC and its values. He’s the perfect gentleman.”

Tom Garner received countless cards and well wishes from family, friends and former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and George H.W Bush. 

“Hillary and I are pleased to wish you a very happy 100th birthday,” wrote former President Clinton. “During the past century, you have had the opportunity to be a part of one of the most fascinating times the world has ever known. We hope you have a joyous celebration and a wonderful year.”

And Garner is grateful for the life he has led so far.

“I guess I might have had good parents because we were taught to love everyone,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky.”