I worked with him way back in 1992, when I was at the West Seattle Herald for a reporting internship that stretched to, I believe, around nine months.

Tim was always ready with a resource for me to call, or to listen and help when I got stuck on something, or to provide other helpful guidance. Most of all, though, I loved Tim's sense of humor. Sometime after I left the Herald I called him about a strange noise I was hearing at night from my Manning Street apartment. It was a low rumble that was driving me nuts (I'm pretty noise sensitive). Tim just loved the industrial area of West Seattle and, sure enough, he knew what the source probably was, a new fan at the steel mill.

Of course, there wasn't much to be done about that, but it helped just to know the source. Well, sometime after that I got a voice mail from Tim. In his best reporter's voice he said that the police academy was installing a practice shooting range at Manning and 41st Ave. S.W. and, since I lived so close (about 100 yards away), he wanted to get my thoughts about it for a story he was writing. For a few moments I was mortified (thinking "how can they do that? - all that noise!"), but then I quickly burst into laughter, realizing it was April 1st.

This story is not to cast any aspersion at all on Tim's professionalism as a journalist, for he was the consummate professional. But we'd shared much laughter at the West Seattle Herald, and he knew just how amusing I'd find his ruse. Indeed, I've chuckled over Tim's April Fools joke many times through the years, and can still hear just how he chuckled over it, too; and I fondly recall many other amusing moments we shared that added levity to work that, though rewarding, could sometimes also be grueling. Tim really took great joy in looking at the amusing side of things, although not in a hurtful way, for he was very, very kind.

Over time I sort of lost touch with Tim, regrettably, but I always felt he was there to call if I needed to talk about anything West Seattle. In that sense, he was indeed Mr. West Seattle. The things people have written about Tim here are so true, that he was a consummate professional at journalism, that he loved his community and his job (which too few can truly claim) and, and that he was an extremely kind, caring, giving, and patient man.

He was always so easy and wonderful to talk with. West Seattle just isn't the same for me knowing he's not down at the West Seattle Herald working away on stories. A part of him will always be there, though, where he truly left a wonderful legacy.

Oh Tim, I'll miss you! May your wonderful spirit live on and charm and assist others, wherever you may be. You have been a true blessing to our community, and I'm so grateful I got to know you. Thank you, my friend.

Lynn McIntosh