Louis Timmerman passed away last month. Not many people knew Louis but they often saw him as he biked every day from Royal Oak to Graul’s grocery or Easton, with plastic grocery bags hanging from his handle bars. We were fortunate to live near Louis and became good friends. A quiet, unassuming man on a bike, his wisdom and kindness was not evident to those who passed by as he rode down St. Michaels Road.
Louis was the best neighbor one could have. For years he always lent a helping hand to his grateful Royal Oak neighbors, even showing up to shovel you out after a sudden snow storm.
Louis was highly intelligent, very well read and very thoughtful. We often exchanged books. The last books we exchanged were The American Story, by David Rubenstein and Sapiens, a Brief History of Humankind, by Harari.
Hailing from North Carolina and a Vietnam veteran who saw action, Louis was skeptical of war, against the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and agreed with President Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Most impressively, Louis was vehemently anti-racist. Whenever discussing national and local political issues Louis was unbending in his view that the time for real racial equality was overdue.
Louis cared about a better world for all and left many of us better off for knowing him. We know the rest of the Royal Oak community joins us in saying, rest in peace, dear friend.
Kathleen Linehan and Ed Gabriel
Royal Oak
Kristen Greenaway says
Very much appreciated, Buffy & Ed. Thank you.
Trudy Wonder says
What a lovely letter. Thank you for taking the time to write this and help us see the person behind the name. My husband and I are new to the area; I passed Louis on his bicycle this summer. What a wonderful man he was to those who knew him. It’s a shame more of us didn’t.
Roger Valentine says
So wonderful for you to pen this letter. He would certainly have shied away from any notoriety but he deserves to have many know of the depth of the quiet man on his bike.. For me, he was my Good Samaritan, as I had a simple flat tire on Cedar Cove road, and believe it or not both I was waved to and passed by two others, of wealth and religious standing, before he came, stopped and helped me change a tire on a cold blustery day. May he indeed rest in peace and may we all learn from his humility and grace.
Laurie Burke says
You speak for all of us. Thank you for that. His passing is a very sad moment for this neighborhood and he will not be forgotten.
Liz Battin says
Lovely tribute to our neighbor Louie.
RIP
Julie Susman says
Buffy and Ed- Thanks so much for this tribute. For those of us who saw him everyday and worried about his health and well being, it is heartwarming to know that he had friends and neighbors who cared about him. RIP Louis.
Sue Grant says
We are so so sorry- we waived to each other daily we will miss him- he always made me smile
Elizabeth Swaine says
Thank you for writing this. I bet he thought you were the best neighbors too