It’s been my privilege to be close to many women who are truly larger than life, and to put words around their amazing stories. Sister Toni Ann Palermo is certainly one who fits into that “larger than life” description. This is a woman who lived every part of her life with passion, guts, humor, and humility. How lucky were we that Toni Ann chose to live her unique life among us as a School Sister of St. Francis for 70 years!
Before she got to the “convent” part of her life, though, Toni had quite a unique run as a girl and as a young woman. Born on February 15, 1933, to Fred and Elvira Palermo, little Antoinette (who spoke only Italian until age 5) was a scrappy and independent child – quick, inventive, smart, and athletic. Early on, she developed a love of sports, particularly softball, which she played with the neighborhood kids in her native Forest Park, Illinois.
She honed her natural talent and began playing professional softball with the Parichy Bloomer Girls of the National Girls Baseball League. At age 11, the same year that her mother died, Toni was invited to spring training in Cuba with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Once in an interview, Toni was asked if she got her parents’ permission to pursue her baseball passion, and she commented that it didn’t even occur to her to ask. She just knew that she had to follow her passion.
Her course was set at that tender age, and when she turned 14, she became a member and went on tour with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1949 and 1950, she played shortstop for the Chicago Colleens and later in 1950 she also played for the Springfield Sallies. Slight of stature, the young shortstop Toni became more well known by her nickname “Peanuts Palermo.”
In 1982, in recognition of her skill and her contributions to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Toni Ann was inducted into the National Women’s Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
At the age of 20, in the fall of 1953, Toni felt strongly that she was being called to religious life. Although she loved baseball so much – she ate, drank and slept baseball – she answered that call, and became a faithful member of the School Sister Class of 1954 – the class that is celebrating their 70th Jubilee this year.
As Sister Concetta, Toni earned her bachelor’s degree from Alverno College, and as a member of the Rockford Province, she taught for 14 years in elementary schools in the Diocese of Joliet. In 1970, having traded in Concetta for her birth name of Toni Ann, she studied at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and earned three master’s degrees in psychiatric social work, kinesiology, and physical education; she also pursued and earned an interdisciplinary doctorate from UW-Madison that gave her experience in counseling, communication arts, and adult education among other areas.
Those degrees just punctuated Toni’s belief that, as she said, “we all do more than one thing. These studies and degrees just allowed me to help many more people.”
Toni’s philosophy guided all the many ways she became involved – like a spark plug – in people’s lives. She would say, “I think people are tired because they’re not energized; they’re not out there helping people. When you help people, you get energized. We are not born just to sit here and do nothing. You have to keep doing something that is going to bring life to one another.”
Those words were so typical of Toni. She intentionally lived her life so her service would inspire young women in the church and beyond.
Toni also credited her time playing baseball as a strong influence in her ministry. She said, “Baseball taught me discipline and how to be coachable. In life, we have to be coachable; if we have so much pride and can’t take any suggestions, we just don’t grow. In every sport I’ve been in, I’ve been coached; that’s truly how our lives go.”
Baseball – and sports in general – never left Toni’s life, and every now and then an event would pop up to bring her baseball passion front and center once again. For instance, in 2016, the Catholic Herald newspaper ran a headline, “Sister, Doctor, Baseball Star” recounting a ceremony at Miller Park where Toni was recognized by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee for her long career as a vowed woman religious living out the charism of the School Sisters of St. Francis through her various teaching assignments, her work with the poor, and her work supporting and empowering women. The picture in the newspaper was, of course, of Toni signing a baseball bat.
There was also Toni’s memorable appearance on the TV show, “To Tell The Truth,” where she and two other women were questioned about which of them was actually a star player with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. If you haven’t seen it, this is a TV clip definitely worth watching. Toni answered all questions beautifully — and her warm, personable, professional, knowledgeable self was on full display.
Toni’s friends from Madison (and actually from all over the country) sent me over 50 emails, describing the many ways she impacted their lives. The stories ranged from her profound sense of fun to her profound sense of ministry. A few examples: The story of how Toni opened her home and her life to Rougy, a woman from Gambia whom she had just met. Toni served as Rougy’s “American Mama,” housing her for almost a year, helping with her immigration interview, assisting her in getting a job, a driver’s license and car, celebrating every milestone with her family. Toni’s passion in speaking of Rougy within one of our Chiara Area Community meetings was more than memorable. We couldn’t miss Toni’s commitment!
The stories of Toni’s passion for sports abounded in those email messages, ranging from fun and boisterous outbursts at UW-Madison sporting events to “helping” the coaches at both live games and those on TV. Her friend Cathy commented that even though they weren’t on any payroll, they were certainly “extremely helpful.”
One unique similarity from among all the messages about Toni that I received were that the topic didn’t matter. Whether Toni and her friends were talking about religion, sports, medicine, fashion, anything, there was always zest for life, lively discussion, lots of laughter, and obvious love. In many ways, Toni broke the stereotype of “Catholic Sister” that many people held; they couldn’t help but be touched by Toni’s magnetism, her willingness to engage in conversation, and her passion for helping anyone who needed help.
There is so much more that could be said about Toni, and I know the stories will go on well beyond today. This woman was all about faith and humor and compassion and independence and empowerment and sisterhood and service. This Peanuts Palermo, this Sister Toni Ann, this mentor and coach and soul friend – will not be forgotten.
With Toni, we recognize that baseball is even mentioned in Genesis and the Gospel of John, in the words: “In the Big Inning.” This last chapter of Toni’s earthly life was indeed her big inning, and we are confident that Toni slid into Home safely. We also trust that Toni will continue coaching all of us who hold her in blessed memory.
By Sister Elaine Hirschenberger