Timothy J. Dowdell

Timothy John Dowdell was born on June 9th, 1947 to John Edward Dowdell and Genevieve Tansey Dowdell in Brooklyn, NY. He is survived by his daughter Megan Anne Dowdell, brother Robert (Rob) Dowdell, sister-in-law Grace Dowdell, nephews John, Brian, and Kevin Dowdell, niece Sharon Dowdell, cousins James, John, Joe and Maryanne Daley, Margy and Gregg Izzo, Marie and Walter Lockhart, Sue and John Arleo, Pat and Bernadette Tansey, as well as many of his closest friends including Bill Fulgoni, David Bailey, Stephanie Ross, Danny Diaz, Jim Flanagan, Sarah, Michael Mugrage, Eric the Pig, Billy Duncan (some here with us still and some not), Sunshine (his loyal cat companion), and undoubtedly countless employees at Publix who saw him everyday.

Tim attended school at St. Dominic's in Oyster Bay, L.I., NY from the second grade until he graduated from high school. He was a proud alter boy for 9 years there alongside his brother Robert "Robbie" Dowdell, whom he always loved so much. It was during these years that Tim and his brother Rob took on many small jobs to "earn their keep": golf caddies, newspaper delivery boys (on bike!), shoveling snow, selling potholders and church raffle tickets, busboys, redeeming beer and soda bottles from construction sites, and any small task they could find just to earn that nickel. His fondest memories always included walking to the bus stop for school with Robbie, and the family dog, Lassie as well as feeding unwanted food (liver to be specific) to Lassie while mommy wasn't looking, playing tricks on his sister Diane, and other fond family memories.

Tim later attended Fairfield University where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology—an accomplishment he was always proud to have achieved there. It was during his college years that he formed his closest friendships with fellow buddies such as Billy Donovan, Eric the Pig, Jim Flanagan, Sarah, and David Bailey who later served as groomsmen and singer when Tim got married at the age of 32. The wild and crazy stories these young and free-spirited hippies of the 1960's share are undoubtedly still yet untold. With memories such as attending Woodstock 1969, witnessing the Martin Luther King Junior's "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington DC, hitchhiking to and from everywhere. There is no doubt that Tim was a man who went on his own way, never off the tracks, but usually not by the book. It wasn't until some adventures and years later, that Tim later became a state certified real-estate appraiser in the Greater Orlando region where he settled down to start a family.

In 1980, Tim married his only love in life, Georgina Lauricella, with whom they had their only daughter Megan Dowdell. From that moment on, Tim became Dad. He was a dedicated father more than anything else in the world, present in his daughter's life every step of the way. The relationship the two had was quite special in that it was a remarkably strong bond throughout the 27 years of wonderful memories the two shared as father and daughter. Everything from going to the movies, watching/attending Gator football games, playing their favorite board game "Titanic", visiting family and friends in New York and California as often as possible, going out for dinner, cooking/grilling, buying the tallest Christmas tree that could fit into the living room every year and leaving it up until the end of January, watching fireworks for New Years, Christmas, and 4th of July fireworks in the Disney employee parking lot, crashing Disney pools, critiquing every Orlando pizzeria in search of anything resembling true New York pizza, and having countless calls on the phone, there is no doubt he was a rock in his daughter's life.

More than anything Tim was a man who knew the value of love and freely expressed his love to others as often as he could. One thing he always said was that he wanted to remain positive and live each day to its fullest: a philosophy he stated he learned from his eternally optimistic brother Robbie who was also a rock for Tim. He kept a light-hearted attitude towards life despite any obstacles. In his battle against cancer, he especially did just this. He was also overwhelmed by the many unselfish, loving, and simply divine people whom extended compassion, get-well cards and wishes, phone calls, encouragement, advice, words of comfort, shared experiences, and love to him in his darkest hours from family, friends, and sometimes from complete strangers. Ironically, one thing he always firmly believed in that fueled his fire was a simple phrase that comes from the Beatles: "In the End the Love you Take is Equal to the Love you Make". In the end, he certainly knew how much he was loved. Whether you knew him as Tim, TJ, or dad, his presence here will be missed. We will never forget you and we love you.