Timothy James Innes

1944 - 2022

Timothy James Innes
August 5, 1944 - February 25, 2022
Tim Innes was born in Puyallup, Washington, in 1944. He lived in the Pacific Northwest through college, attending Puyallup High School and the University of Washington, and working his first paid newspaper job, as a reporter at the Tacoma News Tribune. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in journalism, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a courier for two years, based primarily at the Presidio in San Francisco.
He then moved to Chicago, where he received a Master's degree at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and worked as a photo editor at the Chicago Tribune. In 1978, when a similar position became available at the San Francisco Examiner, a friend there encouraged him to apply. Tim got the job — the first of several editing roles in the news and business departments — and met colleague Leslie Thomas, whom he married two years later. The couple remained at the Examiner through its merger with the San Francisco Chronicle, in 2000, eventually retiring together in 2009.
Tim always put family first. He often reminisced about his parents, William and Miriam Innes, and the many road trips and cabin weekends that he spent with them and his younger sister, Andrea. He adored his daughter, Katie Innes of San Francisco, warmly welcomed her husband, Baldvin, into the family, and was a beloved grandpa to their two children, Brynjar and Freyja.
A lifelong baseball fan, Tim reared his daughter and grandson to be passionate San Francisco Giants supporters. He was also an avid reader, music lover, amateur genealogist, and cook. His family especially enjoyed his pancakes and pasta dishes.
After a few months of deteriorating health, Tim was diagnosed with AL amyloidosis at the beginning of 2022. The disease progressed quickly, forcing him to live his final weeks at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, in Oakland. He is survived by his loving family, including his wife of 41 years, Leslie, as well as Katie, Baldvin, Brynjar, Freyja, and sister Andrea Innes of Puyallup, Washington. As per his wishes, his ashes will be scattered in the San Francisco Bay. Contributions in his memory may be made to Musae (www.musae.org), the women's chorus with which his daughter has sung since 2007, or the Alameda County Community Food Bank.