Timothy Tiernan Roark

Timothy Tiernan Roark passed away in his home in Salem, Oregon, on November 5, 2022 from a cardiac event. Born November 3, 1950, to John and Patricia (née Tiernan) in Macomb, Illinois, a childhood in a small midwestern town offered Tim many opportunities for adventures. As one of four boys in his Catholic grade school class, he developed close friends - some of whom remained close throughout his life. Tim was one of four siblings and part of the fourth generation of Roarks living in Macomb. He grew up surrounded by extended family. These experiences nurtured a sense of family, tradition, and heritage that were lifelong values. With his brother Tom and friends, he would ride his bike out of town to the La Moine River and from there walk over a mile to the family farm. It was surely in those woods along the hilly banks in the Mississippi River Valley that Tim's lifelong love of nature was born.

Tim’s sense of adventure grew, and after graduating from Western High School, he moved to Denver to attend Regis College. After two years, he took a break from school and went on a formative trip through England and Ireland, connecting with his heritage, including a brief foray into Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Tim eventually returned to Macomb and finished college at Western Illinois University, where he developed a passion for literature and history. He enjoyed live concerts, especially Jefferson Airplane, and was engaged in the political movements of the 1960s. Next, Tim moved to Chicago and began a career with the Social Security Administration, working at an office on Chicago’s South Side. Waiting for a bus one winter day, he decided he’d had enough of the Midwest and put in a transfer for “somewhere with mountains,” eventually ending up in Pendleton, Oregon. There, he met and married Kathy Roark (née Bahler). Tim was involved in the local theater and he and Kathy formed the Shakespeare Cold Reading and Dinner Society with a group of friends. The couple later moved to Salem, Oregon, where they had two children, Conor and Teresa, who they loved dearly. The couple did many updates and remodels to their home, often adding bookshelves. Tim loved to read and had an extensive home library. After Tim and Kathy divorced in 2009, Tim remained in Salem, finishing out his career.

Tim worked for Social Security for over 40 years, helping people with disabilities apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits. But he was most passionate about his involvement with his union. Tim served as a union representative for his region and was deeply involved in many campaigns. He was passionate about making lives better for working people and issues of social justice. He worked with integrity and honesty to make his community better. He took his children to demonstrations and even door to door canvassing. Tim regularly traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with representatives and encourage progressive policy. His family was glad to learn that before his passing he had been able to cast his ballot in the 2022 election, thanks to Oregon’s vote by mail system.

Tim also had a love of nature. Although he missed his family in the Midwest, and went back to visit often, he loved living in Oregon, where he could visit the mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and see the dramatic impact of the prehistoric floods that carved out the Columbia Gorge. Early on, he and Kathy bought a cabin in the Cascade Mountains with a group of friends. As their children grew, the families spent many weekends hiking, swimming, and generally adventuring. Closer to home, Tim managed the family compost system, meticulously crushing eggshells, cutting up fruit and vegetable matter, and putting great thought into leaf mulch systems in the backyard. At the time of his death, he was making plans to transition the property to an ecologically-inspired and more drought tolerant landscape.

Through his life, Tim made an impact on many other people’s lives, as a sibling, parent, husband, friend, civil servant, and union leader. His passing leaves a hole in our community and he will be missed greatly. He is survived by his daughter, Teresa (of Springfield, Oregon); son, Conor (of Bend, Oregon); granddaughter, Genevieve (of Springfield, Oregon); brother, Tom (of Minneapolis, Minnesota); and sisters Mary (Bridgid) (of Brookfield, Wisconsin) and Margaret (Denny) (of Madison, Wisconsin).

A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 2:30 pm in the John Gray Hall of the Oregon 4-H Center just outside Salem. To find more information and RSVP, visit https://app.bluebutterfly.com/memorial/v2/timothy-roark

Donations can be made in Tim Roark's honor to the American Civil Liberties Union or Marion Polk Food Share.