Anthony "Tony" Elms

July 4, 2024
Born in:
Manhattan, NY
Resided in:
Pinehurst, NC
Anthony “Tony” Elms died at home on the evening of Thursday, July 4, 2024, his wife Joyce was with him throughout his cancer treatments and at the end of his life.
Tony was born and raised on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan, attending Trinity School through high school. It was there that his love of language began with his teacher Paul Balduc, who encouraged him to become fluent in French and gave him the tools that allowed him to learn Italian and German as well.
He attended Lehigh University, where he spent his junior year abroad studying Italian in a Dickinson program. Half of his senior year was spent in Germany studying that language. He graduated with a B.A. in international studies and went on to Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he got his M.A. His graduate studies took him back to Italy and a second year back in Germany. He was fluent in Italian, French and German, speaking them with friends until his final day.
He had a career in the corporate world dealing with international human resources and international pension and benefits with Seagrams, Warner Lambert, United Technologies and Duracell.
His passion, other than Joyce, was travel, food and wine. He was an accomplished home chef and host. The SCC Culinary division allowed him to take classes and help others by supporting their programs financially.
Tony loved to travel and experience other cultures. He was open to new places, people, thoughts and opinions. He had a strong philanthropic side supporting his universities and various institutions here in Pinehurst.
Tony came to Pinehurst in 2008 and began to delve into the meetings of the village council and may have been the only person who actually read the financial reports. He also served as liaison between his local homeowners association and village staff as well as serving on the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for several years and on the Donald Ross Association Board. He loved the staff of Pinehurst and all the help they gave him.
He leaves his wife of 38 years, Joyce Reehling; his brother Jay Elms and wife, Lori; step-brother, Phil Cohen and wife, Glenis; along with family on both sides who will miss him dearly.
If you wish to honor his memory, you may donate to the Sandhills Woman’s Exchange or Sandhills Community College.
and your imagination. Rest now. I will find you on the other side.
I graduated from Trinity with Tony. I send my sincere condolences to Joyce and all of Tony’s family.
This is very sad news for me. Tony was a classmate of mine at Trinity School in New York City, Class of 1966, and I remember him from those times very fondly indeed. At the school in M. Paul Bolduc’s French class, he was addressed as “Monsieur Des Ormeaux” which is a literal translation of “Elms.” And his friendliness and charming demeanor endeared him to many of us there.
Our lives separated us, but I remember him with great fondness and I send my deepest condolences to his wife Joyce and his family, who cared for him during his last difficult journey. May he rest in peace now.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he would attend the annual Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. Tony, Judith and I would meet for dinner to catch up.
A few years ago, Tony joined Judith and I in Paris, France to wander through the antique markets searching for vintage French cookware for Judith’s shop. In Paris, all the shop keepers assumed that Tony was French because he spoke French beautifully.
Those were the good old days.
I will miss him. RIP my friend.
Joyce –
I am just now finding this obituary and reading it to my Dad. He had been trying to connect with you all for several weeks.
You and Tony were both so kind and generous to my parents when they were your neighbors in Pinehurst. It was always so comforting knowing that you were just a phone call away if they needed help. Thank you for that.
Blessings and Peace to you in the New Year.