Timothy Burgess Powell

1959 - 2018

On November 1, 2018, Timothy Burgess Powell passed away surrounded by his beloved family at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began his journey to the spirit world. Tim's embrace of the world - intellectually, spiritually and physically - was large and warm.

Tim was born in New Haven, Connecticut on November 9, 1959 to his loving parents, David and Lucia Powell. Dave and Lucia have a cottage on the Ridge in Northfield, MA, where Tim spent most of his summers, and visited as recently as this past September. Northfield held a special place in Tim's heart.

He grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut and graduated from Cheshire High School in 1978. Following high school, Tim earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania in 1982. He then traveled to Egypt where he taught English and eventually met his beautiful future bride and best friend, Eve Troutt who was a Presidential Intern at the American University in Cairo at the time. They were later married on September 5, 1987 at the Riverside Church in New York City.

Both Tim and Eve decided to dedicate their lives to academia. Tim graduated with his master's degree in English (1987) from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and then earned his doctoral degree in American Literature and History (1995) from Brandeis University, in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Tim taught briefly at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, during which time their son Jibreel was born in 1994. The family then moved to Georgia where Tim and Eve both joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in Athens. Son Gideon was born there in 2001. In 2006 the family relocated to the northeast, where Tim and Eve both joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Tim taught courses in literature, cultural anthropology and religious studies, all of which encompassed Native American and Indigenous Studies, which became the legacy of his scholarly work.

Tim devoted his career to the preservation and revitalization of Native American and Indigenous language and culture. The author of several scholarly texts, numerous articles and the recipient of 18 federal and philanthropic grants, Tim traveled throughout the United States and Canada visiting with indigenous communities in his tireless efforts to encourage the digital repatriation of native artifacts. Tim considered his most important work to be the establishment of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) at the American Philosophical Society, a unique academic site supporting the research of indigenous scholars at one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. In addition to his academic contributions, Tim, who was the great-great grandson of the evangelist Dwight L. Moody, assisted his father David Powell, in establishing The Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts in 2018.

Tim had an infectious laugh, a keen intellect, and a big heart. He will be remembered as a humble and generous spirit, and devoted husband, father, brother, cousin, uncle, and son. Everyone who knew Tim was touched by his warmth, love and laughter, and we will all miss his big, warm embrace. Tim is survived by his wife Eve Troutt Powell, son Jibreel (Gabe) of Chicago, Illinois, son Gideon of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his parents David and Lucia Powell of Cheshire, Connecticut; his brother John Powell (Heather) of Voorheesville, New York and their children Ian, Mackenzie, and Henry; his aunt Gloria Powell of Keene, New Hampshire; sister-in-law Margot Keys (William) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and their daughter Lena; brother-in-law David Troutt (Shawn) of Montclair, New Jersey and their children Naima and Jasmine; and many close cousins, dear friends and colleagues.

Services will be held at 10am, Friday, November 16, 2018 at West Laurel Hill Cemetery Chapel, 225 Belmont Ave, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Fidelity Charitable. Please write on the memo line that it is for the Timothy B. Powell Scholarship Fund, Account No. 1152358. Mail to Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053. Thank you.