Timothy Adrian Westmoreland, 55, died on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, MA.  Born and reared in Dallas, TX, Tim graduated from Skyline High School in 1984. Following high school, he studied physics and taught astronomy at the University of Texas at Arlington under the guidance of Dr. Ulrich Herrmann until lifelong diabetes threatened his eyesight and his ability to pursue the astronomy career he had wanted since elementary school.  Thanks to beloved faculty members Emory and Dorothy Estes, Harry Reeder and Larry Bromley, Tim seamlessly transitioned to a major in English with a minor in philosophy and graduated with honors in 1991.  This new career path led him to Massachusetts, home of his beloved Boston Red Sox, to pursue an MFA in creative writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he had the privilege of studying with John Edgar Wideman. Amherst became home and Tim lived the remainder of his life there after completing his MFA.

In 1985, Tim’s dear high school friend, Heidi Deuel Lawler, introduced him to her co-worker, and his future wife, Debbie Anthony, at Hastings Records in Mesquite, Texas.  Their mutual love of music–and Debbie’s initiative in asking him out–brought them together for what would be a lifelong love and partnership. Married in 1992, Tim and Debbie never had children, but Tim considered the six bull terriers they had the joy of sharing their lives with–Mary, Annabel, Lyle, Trinity, Betty and Matilda–to be their “fur children” and adored them with all his heart.  Tim and Debbie had a beautiful life together, sharing joy and adventures and always facing Tim’s health challenges as a devoted team.  They were best friends and soulmates.

Despite facing extreme health challenges since childhood, Tim had extraordinary achievements in his life.  He taught astronomy at the University of Texas Arlington at the age of 18 and received the top fellowship for his creative writing submissions to the MFA program at UMass.  While at UMass, his story Near to Gone was selected for Scribner’s Best of the Fiction Workshops 1998 and Darkening of the World was selected for Best New American Voices 2001. Upon completing his MFA, Tim published a very well received collection of short stories, Good As Any, that drew upon his experience with lifelong illness.  Based on his writing, he was named a Dobie Paisano Fellow by the Texas Institute of Writers and was selected as a Distinguished Alumni at the University of Texas Arlington in 2008.  Tim touched numerous lives through his career as a college professor.  He taught creative writing at Hampshire College and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  At Indiana University, he taught creative writing and also had the opportunity to work in the Cognitive Science department with one of his early influences, Douglas Hofstadter. Although health issues forced Tim into an early retirement, he never lost his passion for teaching and lifelong learning.

Tim was preceded in death by his mother Mary Louise Smith Westmoreland, his father Harold Westmoreland, and his mother-in-law Kathleen Anthony. He is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years Debbie Anthony Westmoreland; his sister Pam Westmoreland Wood and husband Gary; his brother Sy Westmoreland and wife Lanetta; his father-in-law Dan Anthony and wife Carolyn; his sister-in-law Marva Adkins and husband David; his brother-in-law Danny and wife Paige; numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews; his fur children Betty and Matilda; and a multitude of friends. 

At Tim’s request, there will be no funeral service.  For those who want to honor his  memory, please consider donating to the equine therapeutic organization he loved so much:

Courageous Strides

708 Colrain Road, Greenfield, MA  01301

courageous-strides.org