Obituary: Timothy Counihan, 65, Hood River
Timothy Donald Counihan passed away at home on April 28, 2024. Tim was born in Evanston, Illinois, March 25, 1959 to Charles Arthur Counihan and Jeannette Ann (Engelman) Counihan, ultimately becoming the older brother to siblings Dan and Anne. Tim’s early days in Chicago were filled with family, with close ties to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Summer trips with the whole family to northern Minnesota were annual highlights for all and were certainly part of Tim’s growing appreciation for being outdoors. Tim’s lifelong love of music started in his teen years and included playing guitar with his pals and finagling his way (far underage!) into Chicago clubs to see the likes of Muddy Waters.
As a young man, Tim headed westward to college in Boulder, and spent some amazing years in Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico. After finishing graduate school and a short spell in Idaho, Tim landed in the Gorge with a research job with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (the station and Tim later transferred into the US Geological Survey). Though not originally planning an extended stay, Tim changed plans after Jennifer Bayer came into his life and they decided to stay put. After a decade together, Tim and Jen were joined by Sean, who made the family complete and brought joy and delight to Tim every day. Tim led the family in so many adventures! Whether backpacking, backcountry car camping, beach walking, exploring the Gorge or serving as technician to Sean’s photography excursions, he was up for whatever came his way.
Music was an essential everyday part of family life – whether it was Tim playing guitar in the living room, attending concerts of all genres, or KBOO on Saturday mornings. Tim was always up for a show in Portland and loved bringing Sean to performances of all types in all kinds of venues. In turn, he delighted in Sean bringing new music to him – when Sean suggested adding a show at UC Berkeley’s Greek Theater to our family vacation, Tim couldn’t have been happier.
Tim’s creativity and analytical skills came through in his 30+ years of research, where he was proud to collaborate with many experts on a wide range of topics in ecology, from invasive species to contaminants to white sturgeon to native mussels. Tim generously shared his time and thoughtful, patient mindset with his community wherever he lived, most recently as a member of the Hood River City Council. He regarded civic matters as being of the utmost importance and was proud of being able to support our town however he could. He strongly believed in learning from others’ points of view and enjoyed engaging with others to gain perspective.
Tim’s kindness and generosity touched many lives, and he leaves an indescribable chasm in his place. He leaves us far too soon. One of Tim’s wishes was that no one go hungry in our community; if inclined, consider a donation to FISH Food Bank to help make this wish come true.
Please join us for a celebration of life June 28th 3:00-6:00 at The Ruins (13 Railroad Street) in Hood River, Oregon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
From Hood River City Council:
The City of Hood River honors the life of recently passed City Councilor Tim Counihan. Tim had been an active City Councilor, serving continuously since January 2019, as well as filling a vacant seat from July to December 2016.
Tim was dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Hood River residents while advocating for inclusive social and environmentally sound policies. He was a firm believer in learning from the diverse opinions of others. He was a dedicated environmentalist, and the City’s representative on the Hood River County Energy Council, where he supported the mission of “improving community resilience, increasing energy independence, increasing investment in local power, and reducing fossil fuel emissions in Hood River County.”
In his professional life, Tim was a research biologist focusing on interdisciplinary research in aquatic ecosystems. He worked extensively on the Columbia River and with scientists across the US and internationally.
Tim was a father and husband. He and his wife have lived in the Columbia River Gorge since 1993. His son was born in Hood River, is a three-time Oregon State spelling champion, and is currently a sophomore at Oregon State University. Tim enjoyed backpacking, hiking, skiing, fishing, playing music, and appreciating the local artistic talent. He will be missed by his fellow councilors and colleagues at the City of Hood River.
