Tribute

Timothy Alan Stephens was born August 1948 to an Air Force Family who were stationed in Japan, Mississippi, Arkansas, Washington and California where his father retired. Tim played clarinet in the marching band and graduated with honors from Pacific High School. Tim majored in Electrical Engineering and Math at UCSB where he joined intramural sports teams, ranked 3rd in California in table tennis, ran a radio show on KCSB and protested the war in Viet Nam. He earned a secondary teaching credential in 1971 from Cal State LA. He married Mary (Mare) Davis in 1972 and enjoyed many years of adventure travel, camping, friendships, and family life with their daughters, Julie and Ellen. Tim remained active in sports: skiing, table tennis, softball. He participated as a Course Marshall for bicycling in the 1984 Olympics and attended many Olympic events. He followed politics, applied as a democratic candidate for representative in Orange County and also to be the teacher in the NASA Challenger program of 1986. Tim began his teaching career at Villa Park High in Anaheim where he started a Mastery Learning Program and served as Math Department Chair. He transferred to Canyon High, earned a Masters in Administration, directed the career center and served as summer school principal. He and Mare lived in a garage for several years, and invested in rental properties. Later Tim and Ron Watkins incorporated a business named T.R.O.L.L. for (Tim and Ron Own Lots of Land), ushering much fun with the troll theme among their friends. Mare and Tim saw a need for personalized counseling in the schools. She supported supported Tim in another venture that Tim later incorporated with a different partner as Consulting Associates. Tim and Mare hosted an annual Halloween party where guests enjoyed outrageous costumes and laughter. They sang guitar duets in their early years and later Tim joined a Barbershop quartet that performed at Edison Field. Tim and Mare agreed on an amicable separation in the new millennium and resumed the close friendship of their college days. He continued to enjoy friendships, sports and politics. He retired and taught at Sage Hill High School and later volunteered with The Literacy Project in Newport Beach, CA.

Friends & Family

Tim is survived by Mare, daughters Julie, Ellen and son-in-law, Michael, grandchildren Logan, Bryce and Sierra who he loved deeply. The last year of his life, Tim accepted hospice with humor and fortitude. His last words, to the midnight caregiver were “Thank you.” His kind humor, clever intellect, and passion for life will be missed by many friends, neighbors, and co workers.