Francis "Tim" Walsh, 80

Francis "Tim" Walsh died in the early hours of Friday, September 27, 2024, surrounded by his wife and children at the age of 80.

 

Tim was born in Los Angeles, CA, the first child of Francis Thomas Walsh and Bernadette Weiger Walsh. He was a graduate of The Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey as well as Hobart College, and UMass Amherst, where he earned his doctorate in Education.

 

Tim was a true believer in the power of athletics. A fierce competitor and three-sport athlete in high school and college, Tim turned his love of sports into a career, coaching Football, Wrestling and Lacrosse. He began and concluded his career teaching and coaching at Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, bookending further stints at Amherst College, MIT, and St. Mark's School of Dallas, Texas.

 

Tim loved working with young people, helping them find strength and determination they didn't know they had. A proponent of the "student athlete", he took as much pride in his students' academic accomplishments as their athletic successes. This resulted in countless lifelong friendships and supporters. He couldn't go far without running into one of his former wrestlers, effortlessly recalling their height, weight and win record from decades earlier.

 

His athletic accomplishments were many and he was honored to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Tabor Academy Athletic Hall of Fame, and The Hun School Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

However, the accomplishment of which he was most proud was his family. This was evident to anyone who spoke with him for more than a few minutes. He couldn't help but relay the genuine awe he held for his wife, Meredith or the enthusiasm he felt for his children and their achievements.

 

He retired to Providence, Rhode Island where he loved learning about the local history and watching his wife perform with her choirs. Together, they took many vacations to Vieques and Newfound Lake.

 

Tim carried on teaching adult education courses after his retirement. He was always ready to talk about his interests, be it James Joyce, Moby Dick, Ireland, the Basque people, his beloved sports teams or to recount tales of his athletic accomplishments, as both an athlete and a coach.

 

He is survived by his wife, Meredith, his two children, Maura McGuinness and her husband Mike and Brennan Walsh and his wife Melina and his four grandchildren, Macklin McGuinness, Finn McGuinness, Oscar Walsh, and Ciaran Walsh. Also surviving are siblings, Patrick Walsh, Sean Walsh, Mary Jo Feit, Jim Rigot, Kevin Walsh, and Colleen Barbara. He was predeceased by his siblings Daniel Walsh, Pamela Walsh, and William Rigot. He is also mourned by many cousins, nieces and nephews who regarded him as the patriarch of the Walsh clan. 

 

Tim will be remembered for his eternal optimism, kind spirit and Irish twinkle in his eyes.

 

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

 

His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11 AM at Tabor Academy's Wickenden Chapel followed by a Celebration of Life at Brew Fish, 210 Spring St., Marion, where all are welcome to eat, drink and be merry.  Burial will be private. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 18th from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett.  For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.