Timothy Jerome McGauley

Timothy Jerome McGauley passed away on March 8, 2026, in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the age of 82. Born on November 7, 1943, in Superior, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Superior, Tim grew up in the “Twin Ports” of Superior and Duluth, Minnesota, an area shaped by shipping, steel, and the industries of the Great Lakes. He later recalled his childhood with characteristic humor and vivid detail, remembering winter sledding, frozen creeks, and the long northern winters that helped foster his independence and curiosity.

A lifelong lover of science, Tim earned a master’s degree in chemistry. Early in his career he worked at Rocketdyne during the Apollo program, contributing to the J-2 rocket engines that powered the upper stages of the Saturn V on its journeys to the Moon. Later, he devoted decades to public safety, first with Union Carbide and then at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas, where he worked on the safe dismantling and disposal of chemical weapons. His contributions were recognized with numerous awards for helping make the world a safer place.

Tim’s life extended far beyond laboratories and technical work. In the early 1970s, he shipped his Toyota Land Cruiser to South Africa and embarked on three solo safaris across the African continent, driving thousands of miles through remote landscapes while exploring wildlife, geology, and cultures. He documented these journeys in detailed writings for future generations of his family. Later in life, he turned to the sea, navigating coastal waters aboard his yacht, Penchant, in the same spirit of independence and discovery.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome Stephen McGauley and Mildred Ann McGauley (Cronemiller), his brother Gerald McGauley (“Snork”), and his nephew Scott Alan McGauley. Tim is survived by his niece Elizabeth (Beth) McGauley and his nephews Michael McGauley and Daniel McGauley. Those who knew him will remember him as intelligent, quirky, humorous, and remarkably generous—a man of unique perspective who approached life with curiosity, dry wit, and a deep love of storytelling, science, and adventure. He will be deeply missed by his family and by all who had the opportunity to know him and hear his stories.