Tim and I coached together at the Austin Rowing Club. Upon completing his Master's at UT, Tim let me know he was looking for a place where he could teach AND coach, not just one or the other. I recommended that he search through the many wonderful boarding schools I knew and loved so much, so was thrilled when he let me know he was moving up to The Gunnery to teach English and Coach the girls rowing program.

Since then, Tim and I visited each other many times and spoke almost monthly. We last spoke on 12/20, just before the holidays. Tim and I also co-hosted training camps in Florida, Chicago, and Michigan, and  were looking VERY forward to hosting the Fredrick Gunn rowers from our boathouse here at UNC in Chapel Hill, NC. His passion for the sport of rowing was palpable, poetic, and precise...That's called alliteration, Tim.  He saw the stroke, the boat, and the rhythms of a crew differently than anyone I've ever coached with. I still use his feathering drills and "feet out ergs" every single fall. I will deeply miss his voice and tone from our many shared launch rides.     

If for no other reason than to add some levity in this dark time....I feel obligated to tell you how dearly Tim and I loved the late-great comedian, Norm Macdonald. I can see Tim cracking up (and probably smacking my arm) if he knew I was sharing this here, but I can't let this moment go without trying to get one more "Norm" laugh out of him. Tim and I adored Norm's wit, edginess, tone, and delivery. Something about his comedy was stuck outside of time, much like Tim.

Norm Macdonald said the following words to David Letterman, his hero, on Letterman's last ever Late Show. "I know that Mr. Letterman is not one for the mawkish, and that he has no truck for the sentimental, but if something is true then it is not sentimental, and I say in truth, I love you".  Ditto, to you Mr. Poole. Lastly, Tim, Sir, with all due respect... you know the rest ;-)