This thank-you letter is not being sent in a timely manner and for that we do apologize. It has taken us a year to get our thoughts together after losing Tim McClanahan July 11, 2016. We were truly overwhelmed by the amount of support we received from the community after Tim died, and while it is our intention and desire to thank everyone involved, we know that we may miss some people - and for that, we want to apologize, right up front.
Our family had no idea how many lives Tim touched. He may not have been born in Sussex County or in Delaware, but this state and this county were a part of him. For nearly 30 years he thought and acted locally. Tim knew that he couldn't change or improve the world, so he worked to change and improve Lewes, Rehoboth, Milton, Sussex County and Delaware. His hope was to make the lives of Delawareans safer and happier.
Rather than striving to improve the "big picture," he looked at the smaller picture and tried to improve it. Helping your neighbor, your family, or your friend, by improving their lives, makes the world a better place. In reality, the place you live - your home and your community - is your world.
Tim is worth remembering, and the things he did are worth remembering. We all have our individual memories of Tim. Many good, some not so good, a few outrageous, and some with the question, "Tim did what?" While standing in the receiving line at the viewings, we were humbled by the memories of Tim that mourners shared with us. "Tim saved my life." "Tim saved my husband's life." "Tim taught me this in Fire School." "Tim used 'Tim's Tricks' to help me understand, learn or remember something in Fire School."
Of course, he had his faults. Don't we all, since we are human! Riding his bike a little bit faster than he should, taking a risk that he shouldn't - that was just Tim. But, when it came to his devotion to fire and rescue services, Tim did not take risks unless his risk would help someone else. When he was killed, he was practicing for just such an occasion. He wanted to be as well prepared as possible to save the life of another.
He loved his family and friends and liked to have a good time. Sundays on the beach, concerts, visits to The Summer House, and breakfast at The Starboard - all meant a lot to him when shared with family and friends. For the last three years, camping in a fifth wheel added joy to his life with daughter Mollie and fiancé Kim. They were able to spend every other summer weekend heading out for fun and adventure. They had already made plans and had reservations for the 2017 summer season.
Family members including both of his children, Brenden and Mollie, were in attendance at a birthday party for Tim and his older brother, Sean, which was held 16 days before he died. The boys were five years and three days apart in age (6/26/65 and 6/29/70). This is the last memory that many of us have of him.
Both family and friends knew that they could call on Tim at any time for almost anything and he would be there for them. This commitment made him the man that he was regarding his time with fire and rescue activities in the state. He would rush in and help in whenever way possible. That made him a hero to many. Even if it meant going into a dangerous situation that could cost him his life, Tim was there to help. Tim personified service - he personified heroism - to his family, his friends and his community.
The people Tim helped, encouraged, taught, mentored, or affected was made apparent by the hundreds who came to pay their respects. There is no way that we can remember everyone but, rest assured we were overwhelmed by the love, respect and admiration that you shared with us. For this we thank you.
Coverage by the media was amazing. The Cape Gazette, The State News, The News Journal, WMAL, WBOC, WDEL, WGMD, and many more. Local and even regional coverage was reverent and respectful. We could not have asked for anything more, and we thank you.
The Cape Henlopen School District allowed Tim's funeral to be held at Cape Henlopen High School. Thank you for the workers who set up, opened up and cleaned up the school after the services. The water for those attending the services on that hot July day was donated by local grocery stores - thank you.
The fire companies who filled in so that members of Lewes Station 82 could focus on what needed to be done the week after Tim was killed - thank you. Police personnel who were called in for extra duty so that events could run smoothly - thank you. Virginia State Police who picked Mike and I up in Southampton County where we were camping and drove us to the Bay Bridge Tunnel on a dark, rainy night, and the Delaware State Police who picked us up at the BBT and brought us home so that we could be here within seven hours of Tim's death, we can never thank you enough.
Members of Station 82 who gave their time and energy to make the events of that week run so smoothly, we also cannot thank you enough. For six days we were taken care of, driven around, told where to be and what to do once we arrived there. Because Tim's death was a Line of Duty Death, many decisions were made for us.
Parsell Funeral Home did a wonderful job coordinating all of the events and kept things running smoothly. Beebe Healthcare Emergency Department treated Tim with dignity and respect; we thank you. DART members who were with Tim from beginning to end, we felt your presence and love. Members of the clergy who worked together to make the funeral service a memorable one - Chaplain Charlie Arnold and Father William Coco - we are so grateful to you. And to all the family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, members of the brotherhood who came from near and far, thank you for giving your time to be there for us.
Pipers, who practiced together for just a short time, thank you for sending Tim off in such a respectful way. Motorists in Lewes as well as those who were inconvenienced as Tim was carried from Georgetown to Lewes then back to Georgetown that evening; then Georgetown to Wilmington and back to Lewes, you have no idea how we felt when we saw you on the side of the road with hats off, hands over your hearts, waving flags - there is nothing we can say except we were humbled and thankful.
I realize that I have forgotten a lot of what went on that week. We were in a state of shock and functioned as best we could with the help of others. Tim's death was a tragic, traumatic event that we would never wish on anybody. But it proved to us that there are so many good people in this world who truly care for others. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Mike, Rita, Brenden, Mollie, Sean, Pam, Brion, Samantha, Chris, Jenny, Savannah, Virginia and Charlotte McClanahan; Kim Hollar Baker; Jessi and Eli Johnson; Joshua Hall; the McCabe Family; and all of our extended family members.
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