God be with Carol, Rebecca, Daniel, and Jonathan, and their entire families, as they sojourn to Houghton, New York, this weekend for the service of celebration and homecoming for Tim and his parents, Richard and Lillian Fuller, and to lay them all to rest.  The Mitchler family is praying for your safe travels, and for all of you to be blessed with loving memories of Tim and his parents...may each of you continue to experience the peace that passes all understanding.

So long, "Dude"....I miss you more than mere words could ever express, my friend!

I grew up in Rochester, NY and chose Houghton College as my college. I can assure you that it was because of the flawless way that the Admissions Office engaged me and my family that I attended Houghton. 

Tim specifically took a very personal interest in me. He hired me to work in the Admissions Office as well when I was a student at Houghton. He is an indelible person in my undergrad journey at Houghton. 

One last thing I will share: my professional journey has had some ups and downs. I remember talking to Tim in 2016 as I transitioned out of another job and I was truly disappointed and discouraged. He and I ended up on a call and he spoke words of love and affirmation to me the entire time. He never judged or accused me of my shortcomings. He didn’t have anything for me at his organization, but actively sought employment for me and in fact connected me directly to a few people. I would call the an example of how a genuine Christian is supposed to behave when encountering someone in need of love and affirmation.  He was awesome. I will never forgot his impact on my life. 

I first met Tim in the spring of 1984, when I was a brand new admissions counselor at Greenville and the last Quad C was held there. Tim had a presence about him that led to both respect and welcoming friendship. That said, I sort of kept my distance initially, as I leaned more to the respect side of the spectrum. I can't put a point in time on when our friendship started, but I'm so, so glad that it did. My life has been enriched by Tim. He cared for me and always remembered aspects about my family that I had shared with him. I knew that when I asked him to pray about something that he was. 

Tim was a favorite speaker at our Ardeo events. His wisdom, knowledge and experience, combined with his wit and sayings...a number from Dr. Chamberlain, his much beloved former president and mentor, made his sessions mesmerizing. 

Conversations over meals, sometimes with my wife, were always special. He listened so well, and when he shared it was always kind, caring and on point. We especially loved talking about our kids and grandkids. I also had the pleasure of a meal in his and Carol's home and as much as we tried to find a time when we could get together with our wives, our travel schedules combined to keep that from happening...a significant regret. 

I am already missing the quick email exchanges over Inside Higher Ed stories in the early morning hours, especially those that featured Christian colleges. I will miss Tim's travelogues...I had hoped he would publish them in retirement for the pleasure of those of us that travel for work. I will miss seeing him at conferences and especially for the occasions where we'd be able to connect over a meal. I will miss his smile, his wisdom, his wit, and his caring. I will also look forward to reconnecting in heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

I had very much hoped to rearrange my travel plans to be in Indianapolis on Saturday for the service, but the flights aren’t available. I would have loved to honor Tim’s memory, meet his family and connect with old friends.

There are a lot of people in the admissions world who are well-respected and a lot who are well-liked. Tim was a 10/10 on both counts. He was the best of the best. Tim came to three of my campuses as a consultant. He was always insightful and kind, with the latter being very important.

I was fortunate to be part of the Cora! Cora! Cora! league with Statboy for several years, until my wife suggested that when I played fantasy baseball, it looked to her a little too much like I was working. I received many of Tim’s hilarious travelogue emails in those years.

There’s one email that has a special place in my memory. Tim told about how he and Jonathan got dragged to the mall by Carol. Bored, Tim bought a rubber ball—perhaps from a vending machine, I don’t know, maybe I’m making up half of what I’m about to say here—and he and Jonathan proceeded to create games with that ball, right there in the mall and had a great time. I love picturing this simple father-son joy, and it’s a memory that often pops into my head.

When I saw the news of his passing, I hadn’t seen Tim in at least seven years, though we exchanged emails (the last being when I asked if I could steal his “moves management” presentation). I will miss him very much—the biggest and best Mets fan anywhere—and want to express my sympathy to the family and his close friends.

My wife and I were saddened to hear of Tim's passing. He influenced the lives of all three of our children. Tim helped us as parents to navigate the college years when our son Justin first applied to Houghton. He was a calming voice to us and gave us the confidence and trust we needed as we drop our first born off at the campus. That friendship with our son (Justin Hackett) continued all the way until Tim's passing. Tim was a great mentor to our son. But more that that, he was a great example to all of us on what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. He will be missed by so many. The higher education community of leaders will feel his absence for many years. It will also be a joy to see Tim again! Blessings to you and your family as you grieve. Our  prayers are with you all.

Jeff and Cindy Hackett

It's hard to articulate the depth of the loss I've been feeling since God called Tim Home.  However, I have been so comforted by the beautiful condolence messages and memories that everyone has shared to date, and I look forward to reading every one of them as they continue to pour in day by day.  

Tim and I met in 2011 when we were both members of the leadership team at Performa Higher Education, which later became Credo.  Our backgrounds, both personally and professionally, could not have been more different.  Having said that though, from the first time we served together on a project, the uncompromising bond of friendship we forged was as special as any I have ever known in my life.  The endless travel, the incredibly hard but rewarding work, the constant laughter, the sometimes bittersweet tears, the unwavering dedication to serving a higher purpose in life, all of these things were uniquely Tim.  I already miss them, as I certainly do him...Tim made me a better person.  That's a debt that I'll never be able to repay in this lifetime, or the next.  

In my grief, I've  been struggling with how to carry forth Tim's legacy in my own life, and in the lives of others.  Well, it finally hit me.  I get my first chance today.  Tim and I, along with other colleagues affiliated with FHES, were scheduled to begin a project tomorrow at an institution that holds a special place in our hearts.  Today was supposed to be the travel day.  I'm still traveling there, but for the first time in a long time I'll arrive at the destination without the ability to give Tim a big bear hug.  As sad and painfully heartbreaking as that is for me, I need to honor Tim, and his legacy, by seeing the project through to completion.  So, I'm planning to put one foot in front of the other, breathe deeply moment by moment, and keep moving forward on behalf of him, and everything he stood for.  Without question, it's what he would want me to do, and quite candidly what he would expect me to do.  I have no intention of letting him down.

To Carol, Daniel, Rebecca, Jonathan, and the entire Fuller family, please allow me to extend my deepest sympathies on behalf of the Mitchler family.  We're so sorry for your loss, and we will always - and I mean always - remember Tim and the life he lived.  The mold was surely broken after God made Tim.  Rest in peace, my dear friend...and take heart in knowing that you are loved and missed beyond measure, and more than mere words could ever truly express.   

Allan, Lee, Allison, and Alexandra Mitchler