Timothy Edward Whalen
The greatest way we can honor those we have lost is by continuing to live our lives with purpose, joy, and courage – because we know that’s exactly what they would want for us.
It is with love and great affection that his family remembers and celebrates the simple but remarkable life of Timothy Edward Whalen, who was born on March 31, 1943, in Bakersfield, CA. He was the cherished son of the late Mary (Hatton) Whalen and LeRoy Whalen, who was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army at the time of Tim’s birth. After the conclusion of WWII, the Whalens moved back home to Cincinnati, OH, to be closer to their families, and where Tim thrived as a youth, the eldest of six Whalen siblings.
Tim’s early journey led him to study at St. Francis Seminary, where he nurtured his spiritual calling to become a Catholic priest. Although he chose a different path after three years at the Seminary, the Franciscan virtues of piety, learning, and compassion continued to guide him throughout his life. He graduated from Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnatti in 1961.
Before serving his country in the United States Army, Tim briefly attended Cornell University. While stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, his talents for writing, photography and organizational skills were put to effective use writing and publishing a daily newsletter, as well as serving as an assistant to the base Commander. Upon returning stateside, Tim pursued his love of photography and media at Boston University College of Communications, earning a B.S. degree in Film and Television Production.
Tim found his first professional home at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), where his talent as a photographer flourished. He later helped to establish and manage the company’s video production unit. It was here he met his beloved wife, Kate. Their “honeymoon” aboard the Queen Elizabeth II, docked in Boston Harbor as a floating hotel for DECworld 87, was just the beginning of a partnership filled with love and shared adventures. Tim left DEC in 1988 to produce independent corporate video and events, as well as writing for companies that included Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Fidelity Investments, Watts-Waters, Videocom, and Videocraft.
Tim and Kate established homes in Ayer and later Groton. A devoted dad to Siobhan and (stepdad to) Jesse and Julia, Tim found great joy in the pleasures of fatherhood, sharing many happy experiences of concerts, plays, museums, and school and sporting events. He was a voracious reader and often had four or five books on his nightstand at the same time. He loved all kinds of books, from fiction to how-to journals to science, historical novels, and nature and biographies. Tim’s heart found solace and rejuvenation in the beauty of summer family vacations on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, the New York Finger Lakes Region, and later in southern Maine, where a small RV at Summer Hill in Wells became the center of friendships, relaxation, and special memory-making for 11 wonderful summers.
Later in life, in the spirit of new beginnings, Tim agreed to take a leap of faith to support Kate’s dream of owning a farm, and in 2012, they established Limerick Heritage Alpacas on a beautiful hillside in North Berwick, ME. He loved his 13 years of being Farmer Tim but often said that the hard work of farming in New England was “not quite the retirement” he imagined having.
Tim’s legacy will be carried on by his loving wife of 38 years, Kate; his beloved daughter Siobhan and (husband) Tom Lowell, and stepchildren Jesse and (wife) Erin Margolius, and Julia and (husband) Cesar Ahumada; six treasured grandchildren – Isadora, Avery, Cole, Levi, Oliver and Ernest; his much loved siblings Michael and (wife) Cathy Whalen, Eileen Whalen, and Maureen Whalen and their families; many cherished nieces and nephews; and special friend and right-hand-man at the farm, Devin Fraize. Tim was preceded in peaceful passing by his sister Mary Kay Dolgin; brother Patrick Whalen; and brothers-in-law, Stephen Dolgin, Martin Low, and Robert Geiger.
The family sends their heartfelt thanks to the Wentworth-Douglas Hospice Care team and New England Cancer Specialists, whose concern and compassionate care provided great comfort to both Tim and the family during his final days. We would also like to thank North Berwick Emergency Services and the many friends, neighbors, and work families who shared their love and support during Tim’s illness.
To honor Tim, we would ask that you consider supporting The Continuum Arts Collective @Continuum Arts Collective, or Big Love Food Pantry www.BigLove.Community, or join son Jesse in the 2025 Pan Mass Challenge Ride www.pmc.org/jm0547 honoring Tim and benefiting Dana Farber cancer research.
Tim leaves us with cherished memories of a life well-lived, filled with warmth and kindness. His gentle spirit will continue to inspire and live on in all of us who loved him.
The family would like to extend an invitation to share a memory of Tim at a Celebration of Life, which will be held in his honor on Sunday, September 28, from 2 to 4 p.m., at The Lady Mary Inn at Hurd Manor, 2 Elm Street, North Berwick, ME.
“Though they may no longer walk beside us,
Their love remains within us, quiet, steady, unwavering,
urging us forward, reminding us to embrace each day
Not in sorrow, but in tribute to the life they lived
And the light they left behind.
So we keep reaching,
for the sun through the clouds,
for hope when it falters,
and for the courage to keep becoming
the people they believed we could be.
And when we lift our eyes to the night sky,
we remember,
they are the stars above,
watching over us, guiding us gently,
reminding us that love does not end,
it only changes form.
And as we carry them in our hearts,
we become the living legacy of their love.”
“Their Light Lives On”,
Spirit of a Hippie