Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.
//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-life-panel.jpg

Andy Glantzman

December 1, 1958 - September 29, 2021
Comstock Park, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-01.jpg



Visitation

Sunday, October 3, 2021
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

De Vos Children's Hospital
100 Michigan Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 391-2000
Driving Directions
Web Site

Gilda's Club
1806 Bridge St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Web Site

Give Kid's The World Village
210 South Bass Road
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg
Print

With a kind spirit, a generous heart, and a selfless way, Andy lived his 62 years of life with fierce determination. We will remember him for his kind honesty and his ability to be fully present in the moments of life. As we find comfort in our shared memories, we will hold our love for Andy close to our hearts.

In Brooklyn, New York, Carl and Tess (Katz) Glantzman welcomed Andrew on December 1, 1958. Andy was the second of two children; eight years older than Andy, Pam always looked out for her little brother. Their parents worked hard to make sure the family was comfortable; his father, a WWII Veteran, worked in a garment factory. His mother stayed at home but kept very busy volunteering for the PTA and her children's other activities.

The Glantzman's home existed in a very populated Brooklyn neighborhood. This was a dream location for a young boy, and Andy loved it. He spent many hours playing stickball in the streets, looked forward to going to the Mets baseball games, and riding in the city subway system. Andy would ride his bike for hours in the Yeshiva schoolyard, located at the end of his block. He was an active young boy - he ran before he learned to walk!

He stayed busy joining the Cub Scouts, the orchestra (he played the violin), and all the while, he learned to read by four years old. They discovered his reading ability early, as his mother asked him to read the TV Guide to test his eyes. He was also great at math. His teachers at PS 241 Elementary School enjoyed their time with him in the classroom, as he was an impressive student. Right around the age of 5, his family frequented the Purity Diner on Sunday evenings. The waiter once asked him to add up the check, which he did with accuracy!

Giving his family quite a scare, at the age of 7, he suddenly stopped breathing. His sister saved his life when she performed a tracheotomy on him. Thankfully, he lived to see the conclusion of elementary school. He finished strong in 5th-grade, earning the title of Spelling Bee Champ of the year.

Andy lived out his middle school years at the Jackie Robinson School. His love of math and learning increased as he matured. At home, he enjoyed playing the game of Monopoly and the card game Casino. His opponents knew his hand by his hum - as he would always hum with a good hand. His middle school honored him with the Spanish Medal.

The location of his Hebrew school was around the corner from his childhood home. He celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Woodruff Temple, which was in a different neighborhood. Notably, this was is where his family said Kaddish for his father for 11 months at afternoon and evening services.

As Andy matured, he certainly did not slow down. He attended Stuyvesant High School and unsuccessfully tried out for the baseball team. Instead of baseball, he devoted himself to school and earning some money, obtaining his first job at the camera store on Flatbrush Avenue in 1976. The store was only two blocks from his house, making it very convenient. He became quite the admirable teenager purchasing an 8-Track with wired stereo speakers in his bedroom. He played music loudly and proudly!

After high school graduation at the age of 16, he lost his father. This event would be a driving force for Andy, and later would be a building block for his philosophy on fatherhood and the stress he put on being ever-present for his boys. His philosophy was, "Raise good people, and they will find their way." He lived this philosophy by spending time with them and helping them grow into people he could be proud of. He coached their sports, drove them where they needed to go, and shared a love of WWE with them amongst many other activities. He was a good dad, indeed.

Andy, spurred on by his mother after the loss of his dad, continued his education at St. John's University. There, he earned his BA in Athletic Administration. Afterward, Andy continued his higher education to become a graduate assistant at the University of Detroit. He worked in the Athletic Administration, which enabled him to complete his MA in Marketing from the U of D.

Of course, his education story is important, providing the full picture of his life. But the best part of his college story begins when he meets his roommate Patrick Martino. Patrick was initially Andy's roommate. As time progressed, however, he became Andy's close friend and eventually his brother-in-law. During the holidays, Andy would stay with Pat’s family, not having the ability to make it back to New York between school and his work with the school. As fate would have it, this would introduce him to his future wife.

Andy and Marie, after forging their own paths for several years, reconnected and became romantically involved, celebrating their wedding on September 28, 1990. They shared their vows at a friend's home in a private ceremony. Before long, they began the adventures of parenthood with their two sons, Joshua and Maxwell.

His career took Andy many places. He found his first job as a part of the Sports Information Department of U of D in 1979. He then worked for Oakland University as Sports Information Director until 1998. These jobs provided amazing opportunities to fulfill many of his dreams, things he felt privileged to experience and be a part of for the rest of his life. These events were highlighted by the World Cup Soccer tournament in the Silver Dome, the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and the Pan America Games. The Olympics had been a dream for him since childhood, and he always was so awed and proud that a kid from Brooklyn made it and got to live that dream. All of these experiences were great, but in time, Andy felt the need to settle in with his family with a steadier job that wouldn’t require constant travel. He decided his family was his priority, so he set his mind to be more present. So in 1998, Andy went to work for Americare, which was later named Work-Life Benefits, a concierge service providing benefits to businesses and employees. This job allowed him to be home with his family.

As a dedicated worker, the 2009 recession hit Andy's career hard. He faced a layoff from his job, creating opportunities he never really expected. He was willing to explore just about anything that would help support his family. So, he answered an advertisement that offered $50 to tell his unemployment story. He thought this would be easy money, so he sent in his application. He soon received a phone call asking if he would be willing to tell his story on video. He happily agreed and was told to go to Detroit Metro Airport for filming. He earned a couple of hundred dollars for that stint. Little did he know, this would be his true moment of fame! Several weeks later, he received an unexpected call from a movie producer. They were making a movie with Paramount Pictures and wanted to use his unemployment video! His short moment of screen time now lives in the film titled "Up in the Air," which stars George Clooney. Andy's short cinema legacy, all 8 seconds of it, is featured at the movie's beginning. The excitement continued when they received an invitation to the movie's premiere in Detroit. The film received a nomination for an Oscar as Best Picture; however, it lost to "Avatar."

Thankfully, Andy did not have to rely on his movie career to support his family. Eventually, he went to work for National Heritage Academy as a parent relations manager. This new career path was a good one for Andy. He found the experience of helping other parents problem-solve very rewarding.

Andy's adult life was interrupted when he learned he was diagnosed with non-smoker's lung cancer in 2017. They gave him the grave news of a two-year life expectancy. With this, he was determined to live his remaining days to the fullest. He experienced many ups and down's after his diagnosis; some stretches were good while others were true challenges. With his bucket list in hand, Andy faced life head-on.

He achieved most of the items on his list. He traveled to New York City with his sons for a whole week - sharing his boyhood memories with them. They visited his childhood home and attended WWE Wrestlemania and got to go to a wrestling event at his favorite arena, Madison Square Garden. He visited Disney World twice with his family. He and Marie traveled to Las Vegas and took a Disney cruise together. He relished in the moments when he and his grandson, Asher, attended his first baseball game. Though he had many other baseball-related items on his list, COVID-19 impacted his ability. Fortunately, this past spring allowed Andy and his entire family the chance to go to a Whitecap game together. In these last cherished life moments, Andy enjoyed the gift of family and friends.

Andy passed away on September 29, 2021, with his family's abundant love by his side, the after spending his 31st Wedding Anniversary with Marie. The memories we shared with him will live forever, and we will never forget him.

Age 62, passed away September 29, 2021 with his loving family by his side. Andy was born December 1, 1958 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Carl and Tess (Katz) Glantzman. He was also preceded in death by his mother-in law, Joan Martino. On September 28, 1990, Andy married Marie Martino. His wife of 31 years survive, as do their sons, Joshua (Michelle) Glantzman of Grand Rapids, Maxwell Glantzman of Grand Rapids, grandson, Asher; sister, Pam (Frank Gonzalez) Glantzman of Brooklyn, NY; father-in-law, Joseph (Susan) Martino of Macomb; brothers-in-law, Patrick (Ann) Martino of Macomb, James Martino of Narragansett, RI; sister-in-law, Kathleen Martino of Fort Worth, TX; and nephews, Zachary, Michael, and Benjamin Martino. Friends may visit with Andy's family on Sunday, October 3, 2021 from 3-6 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Gilda's Club, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital or Give Kid's the World Village. To read more of Andy's life story, leave a memory or condolence please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/137335/137335-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg