Timothy Deegan

Timothy (Timmy) Deegan, 77, of Tucson, Arizona, went to be with the Lord on September 12th, 2025, at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson. At Tim's bedside was his wife of 51 years, Patti G. Deegan (née Helgren), son Matthew Deegan, daughter Dr. Britt Marie Hermes (née Deegan), and daughter Sara Deegan.

Tim is additionally survived by his grand-daughter Kira Hermes, son-in-law Dr. Taylor Hermes, older brother, Dr. John Deegan Jr., sister, Margaret King (née Deegan), many nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family. Tim was predeceased by his brother, Robert Deegan and parents, Rev. Dr. John Deegan and Margaret Pignataro Deegan.

Born at home in Elizabeth, New Jersey on January 12th, 1948, Tim was the second of four children. Tim's childhood was filled with joy, playing with his many cousins in his multi-generational Italian home in New Jersey. He was known to sneak the pickled eggplant his grandmother made and once, upon causing mischief in the kitchen, got a wooden spoon broken over his head. Tim loved watching his grandmother make homemade raviolis in the basement on a large wooden table.

Tim carried his love of cooking and Italian food into his own home with his wife, children, and grandchild. Kira says her favorite memory of Papa is making a homemade pumpkin pie with him at Thanksgiving. Tim was in pain and could barely stand unassisted, but he found the strength and resolve to make a pie with his grandchild, including a homemade crust, because she asked.

Tim graduated from Newark State College University (now Kean University) in Union, New Jersey with a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1972. After graduation, he co-owned a bicycle shop with his surfing buddy.

In the summer of 1969, Tim and his surf buddy drove from New Jersey to San Blas, Mexico, and the Matanchen Bay. They had heard that it had the longest riding waves of anywhere in the known surfing world at that time. So that was where they wanted to go, and they did. Tim wrote, "Back then, it was uncharted territory. There were no crowds and it was beautiful." His favorite wave was a right breaking wave.

The next summer in 1970, Tim was set-up on a blind date with Patti, in Greenwich Village, New York. In 1973, he and Patti married in Moorhead, Minnesota. For their honeymoon, they drove to southern California with a pup tent and $1,000 to find jobs and start a life together.

At the beginning of his career, Tim worked his way up from a warehouse position in an education publishing company to vice-president of the editing department. He later started a fine arts printing company, Paragon Press, and enjoyed working with clients in the movie and art gallery businesses. During his 50 years living in southern CA, he enjoyed surfing, scuba diving, downhill skiing, white water rafting, and restoring and riding motorcycles.

Tim loved his career, but his greatest joy was spending time with his children. He nurtured their hobbies and interests, from doing projects with his son, Matthew, to driving Sara to her many soccer games. Tim hated dancing, but made an exception for Britt Marie on her wedding day. He used to say to each of his kids that he wanted to be their gardener when he retired. Tim was their biggest cheerleader. Tim was kind, smart, funny, and deeply generous. He was a devoted husband and spent endless hours supporting Patti and her work as an elementary school teacher. Tim and Patti moved to Arizona for retirement. Tim loved the sunsets, beauty of the desert, and the wonderful friends he met.

Tim suffered complications following an emergency surgery. He was brave and loving, enduring nearly four months of pain and rehabilitation. Tim is finally pain-free and with God. He is deeply missed.