Timothy Carter Wilcosky

1952 - 2025

Timothy Carter Wilcosky

March 26, 1952 - February 7, 2025

Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Tim Wilcosky, 72, passed away surrounded by his family on February 7, 2025 after living gracefully with frontotemporal dementia for 14 years. Tim was born on March 26, 1952 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the late Elizabeth and Frank ("Wil") Wilcosky. He was the youngest of four sons. Tim moved "up north" in 1970 to attend Duke University, where he studied zoology and spent a semester at the Duke Marine Lab on the North Carolina coast. He earned a master's degree in Preventive Medicine from The Ohio State University before returning to NC to complete his PhD in Epidemiology at the UNC School of Public Health. While at UNC, he met the love of his life, Daphne Morrell, who had an adjacent study carrel in the epidemiology department. They married in 1982. Tim taught and conducted research as a UNC faculty member for five years before joining RTI International, where he worked for nearly 20 years contributing to various public health initiatives.

While passionate about his work, Tim was always a family man. Tim and Daphne raised a close-knit family with their daughters, Libby and Annie, and longtime beloved cat Rosie. He enjoyed traveling, astronomy, hiking and eating. Tim could often be found in the pantry late at night munching on one of his favorite snacks — Wise potato chips. His status as a goofball was cemented early in life when he published a regular column entitled "Wilcosky's Wit" in his St. Thomas Aquinas High School newspaper. He retained a sense of humor until his final days, often sharing smiles and laughs with loved ones. Tim was a lifelong runner, and after his diagnosis, he inspired his daughters to take up running too. Tim and Libby completed many road races together, including his first-ever half marathon.

Tim and Daphne made the most of his progressive illness and stayed as active as possible — even summiting Mt. Katahdin! As speech became more difficult, Tim cultivated a new interest in dancing. He could often be found tapping his feet or swaying along to James Brown and The Beatles. Tim's family is very thankful to the amazing staff at Brookdale Meadowmont who cared compassionately for Tim in his last three years of life, as well as the other caregivers who helped throughout his illness. Tim's memory lives on through his wife of 42 years, Daphne Morrell; daughters Libby Wilcosky Lee (Eric Lee) of Somerville, MA, and Annie Wilcosky (Joe Schuman) of Washington, D.C.; grandsons Emmett Lee and Henry Lee; brothers Jack Wilcosky of Miami, FL, and Joe Wilcosky of Halifax, VA; mother-in-law Nan Morrell of Brunswick, ME; and many extended family members. He is predeceased by his mother, father, oldest brother and father-in-law.

Tim's family will always remember, in particular, his exquisite mustache (which only became more distinguished as it whitened with age) and his sense of humor. Whenever his daughters lost their trains of thought and remarked, "I forgot what I was going to say," Tim would helpfully supply, "You were going to say what a wonderful father I am!" And you were, dad. We all miss you very much.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Duke Dementia Family Support Program online or by check to Box 3600 DUMC, Durham, NC 27710, or to an environmental nonprofit of your choice. The family is planning a celebration of life in the coming months.