Connie Liane Klingler

Connie Liane Klingler, 50, of Tampa, FL, died on February 2, 2024, of an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. She passed quietly and without pain in hospice, surrounded by friends and family. She is profoundly missed, and her absence is gravely felt.

Connie was born in Miami, FL, in 1973, to Carole and Peter Klingler. When she was five, the family moved to Tampa, where Connie would live the rest of her life, except for some years in Atlanta. A Tampa girl through and through, she earned the nickname "The Mayor" because she knew everyone in town.

Connie graduated from Plant High School in 1991, where she excelled in athletics, including volleyball, swimming, and diving. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1995 with an official major in Family and Child Sciences and, unofficially, in Seminole football.

On Sundays, you could find Connie watching her Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a fandom begun with her father toting her to games as a child. She attended practically every home game over the next 40 years, including the 2020 hometown Superbowl with her sister, Ashley, the most satisfying win for any lifelong Bucs fan.

Connie’s love of sports didn’t end with the Bucs and the Seminoles. She quickly caught on to hockey once the Lightning came to town and possibly owned more Lightning gear than is available in the team store. Connie not only watched sports but played regularly, participating in tennis leagues, 10K races, and walks down Bayshore Boulevard. She did not like to sit still.

Professionally, Connie began working alongside her father in 2000, in structured settlements. She would continue in the family business for over twenty years, at Settlement Planning Associates, Mesirow Financial, and Alliant Insurance Services. She was well respected in her field, serving on the board of the National Structured Settlements Trade Association and as co-chair of the NSSTA Education Committee.

The two most important things in Connie’s life were easily her family and friends. She was an outstanding big sister to John and Ashley, relishing every opportunity to tell them what to do. She set a good example, demonstrating how to be strong during tough times and silly during good ones. She was an excellent officiant at Michelle and John's wedding, a warm confidant to Ashley and Jay, and a dedicated caretaker for her parents during their twilight years.

Connie’s favorite familial role was that of beloved aunt to her nephews, Peter and James. They will fondly remember weeks at the beach, Christmases together, chasing Olive, and that time they went to a Star Wars space hotel. Aunt Connie brightened their lives with her generous heart.

Connie remained close to and loved dearly her extended Chicago family, including the original Aunt Connie, Uncle Peter, Aunt Margaret, Uncle John and cousins Alecia and John Huber, Jason, John Howard and family, Marissa, Tom, and Krista. Connie always made a point to check in and coordinate family trips so that all stayed close.

As for friends, Connie’s connections were deep and numerous, extending to every facet of her life–tennis, hockey, the Bucs, grade school, high school, college, Atlanta, work. Some of her best and most cherished friendships were made during summers at Camp Merri-Mac in Black Mountain, NC. No matter where Connie went or what activity she was doing, one thing was certain–she would walk away with at least one friend. And she would stay friends with them forever.

Connie’s zest for life was unparalleled. She loved to travel and be at the beach. When something funny hit her, she would laugh with her whole body and radiate pure joy. Although she lived with lupus for 25 years, she managed to do more things in a day, a week, a year, than most healthy people. Her passing came much too soon, but she fit more than one lifetime in her 50 years.

We will honor Connie with a funeral Mass on Thursday, February 15, at 2 pm, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa. A reception will follow at Oxford Exchange, at 4 pm. In place of flowers, please consider donations to the Lupus Foundation of America.