Timothy Raymond Nunan

Timothy Raymond Nunan was born at dawn in Kilkenny Castle, Ireland, on January 21, 1925. His father, employed by the British army in peacetime, as many Irish were in the 1920's, resulted in his family being billeted in the castle. His mother later remembered a bugle playing reville' at the moment of Tim's birth.

The eldest son, he grew up with five siblings in County Cork locations and earned a Civil Engineering degree at University College Cork. Tim was one of the young graduates who wired electricity into many rural towns. He helped design a dam at Carriga Drohiid, and supported his mother and siblings when their father died. He married Carmel Cotter in 1950 and they had three children, Richard, Mark and Adrienne. He immigrated to America in 1958 where he worked with the Alabama Power Company for 29 years. His family increased by two more American-born sons, Thomas and Timothy II.

Their Alabama home became a welcoming focal point for Irish and other immigrants. Tim and Carmel often cheerfully managed the Irish booth at Birmingham’s annual International Arts Festival. Attendees were sometimes startled by the actual ingredients in Irish Coffee. Civil Rights unrest during those years meant that people like the Nunans were influences for fresh attitudes during ongoing social changes. These endeavors were aided by his brother Thomas & sister Hazel Cronin, who’d also moved to Alabama.

Carmel died in 1981. Tim retired in 1987. Planning to return to Ireland for half of each year he bought a home near sister Peg and brother Peter. He expected to visit his grown U.S. children for each year's remainder. At his daughter's wedding in Texas, he became reacquainted with Margie Caldwell (Mrs. Robert), of Rochester, New York, and a 15 year Alabama resident, who was widowed and living in California. They married in 1988, lived in Los Angeles for seven years, then moved to north San Diego County in 1995. California was perfect for his outdoor gardening hobby. His other hobby, cooking, was perfect for Margie. Her children, Bob, Lisa, Jeff, plus their eventual children, found it wonderful to experience a loving step-father and step-grandfather close by, one who'd been a family friend during their own younger years spent in Alabama.

Tim is survived by brother, Tom of Virginia, sister, Hazel Cronin of Dublin, Ireland, sons Richard, Mark, and Tom, daughter Adrienne Ruthven, beloved son-in-law and daughters-in-law plus eight grandchildren on the east coast and in Texas, the location of his first great-grandson's birth. Local survivors include his wife, Margie, her sons Robert and Jeff Caldwell, daughter Lisa Mortimer, their dear spouses and seven grandchildren.

There remain numerous loving cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews in Ireland and the U.S. along with a multitude of friends. They have always expressed special affection for their Tim, be he uncle, brother, God-father, lovely tenor singer, a fellow devoted to the Uncles on his mother's side at the Family Home, as all Irish are, and a devout worshiper of God and all His wonders.

Tim probably didn't realize how Alzheimer's disease affected him, therefore his loving survivors choose not to recognize that either. His essence remains: that of a loving, giving, caring person who lived in the 20th century and a bit into the 21st. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Burial at Eternal Hills is private and a celebration of life will take place in early November.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Special Olympics 6730 E Carson St, Long Beach, Ca 90808. In Memory of Timothy Jr.