from DeafTimes :: Article
Timothy F. Medina
1946 – 2008
“Success is a Journey, Not a Destination”
Timothy Fermin Medina, son of Lucy Medina and the late Adolph C. Medina died on December 24, 2008 in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Medina was born in Raton, New Mexico on June 5, 1946 as the oldest of eight children. He leaves behind his mother and his maternal grandmother, Natividad Campos, both of Rawlins, Wyoming; two brothers, James (Vicki) Medina of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Daniel (Tatanya) Medina of Rock Springs, Wyoming; four sisters, Carmen Mills (Charles) of Casper, Wyoming; Beverly Hite (Thomas) of Hanna, Wyoming; Dora Flagg (William) of Riverton, Wyoming and Patricia Bonnette (Mike) of Rawlins, Wyoming. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces. Tim is also survived by his wife of many years, Blossom Janette Medina of Washington, D.C. as well as a companion of many years, Terri
Handshoe of Springfield, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Paul in 1973 and by his Father Adolph C. Medina in 2000.
In the 1960’s Tim started to lose his hearing. He had expected to spend the rest of his life working at his father’s gas station but it was not to be. The Rawlins High School Counselor and Nurse told Tim’s parents that he was much too smart to NOT go to college. After graduation he immediately went to Washington, D.C. to learn sign language before starting classes at Gallaudet
University. Tim graduated from Gallaudet in 1972 with degrees in Psychology and English. After Gallaudet, Tim became a sign language instructor for the National Association of the Deaf. Eventually he would become a newscaster for WTTG Channel 5 in Washington, D.C. for over 11 years where he would give the news for five minutes in sign language and speaking. Many people, both hearing and deaf, loved to watch Tim come on at 12:25 pm when he would provide 25 minutes of news condensed into five minutes without any commercials! Although he was a familiar figure in Washington, D.C., Tim always found time to give back to the community. During the height of the dangerous cocaine epidemic in the 1980’s where many police officers were being targeted by “crack” drug dealers, Tim hosted a fund-raising event at a
Capitol Hill nightclub where proceeds were split between purchasing bulletproof vests for the D.C. police Department and supporting the U.S. Deaf Olympic teams. This was on top of his long list of accomplishments which also included selling cars and teaching sign language for several years to the U.S. Secret Service at the White House. Despite a busy life, Tim was one of those guys who would set aside time to help others less fortunate than him. He would advocate on a pro-bono basis for those who could not speak for
themselves in front of work supervisors and judges alike. He was very often successful. Since he moved to Ohio in 1986, he continued his work – helping a deaf couple fulfill their dream of buying a home through the federal low-income housing program, helping people get their cars repaired and advocating wherever he was needed. Tim was a friend and colleague to all he met. He was respected by his peers, a community leader and a role model to many deaf students. Tim will always be remembered for his great sense of
humor, his intense curiosity, his easy laugh, and most of all, for his genuine interest and concern for everyone he met. To know him meant to enjoy his true friendship. He has gone “Over the Rainbow.” Farewell. Tim was laid to rest by his family in Rawlins, Wyoming. Memorial services will be announced
soon for Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Ohio where family, friends and guests are invited to pay their respects and to celebrate Tim’s life including his dedication to social justice.
Timothy F. Medina
1946 – 2008
“Success is a Journey, Not a Destination”
Timothy Fermin Medina, son of Lucy Medina and the late Adolph C. Medina died on December 24, 2008 in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Medina was born in Raton, New Mexico on June 5, 1946 as the oldest of eight children. He leaves behind his mother and his maternal grandmother, Natividad Campos, both of Rawlins, Wyoming; two brothers, James (Vicki) Medina of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Daniel (Tatanya) Medina of Rock Springs, Wyoming; four sisters, Carmen Mills (Charles) of Casper, Wyoming; Beverly Hite (Thomas) of Hanna, Wyoming; Dora Flagg (William) of Riverton, Wyoming and Patricia Bonnette (Mike) of Rawlins, Wyoming. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces. Tim is also survived by his wife of many years, Blossom Janette Medina of Washington, D.C. as well as a companion of many years, Terri
Handshoe of Springfield, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Paul in 1973 and by his Father Adolph C. Medina in 2000.
In the 1960’s Tim started to lose his hearing. He had expected to spend the rest of his life working at his father’s gas station but it was not to be. The Rawlins High School Counselor and Nurse told Tim’s parents that he was much too smart to NOT go to college. After graduation he immediately went to Washington, D.C. to learn sign language before starting classes at Gallaudet
University. Tim graduated from Gallaudet in 1972 with degrees in Psychology and English. After Gallaudet, Tim became a sign language instructor for the National Association of the Deaf. Eventually he would become a newscaster for WTTG Channel 5 in Washington, D.C. for over 11 years where he would give the news for five minutes in sign language and speaking. Many people, both hearing and deaf, loved to watch Tim come on at 12:25 pm when he would provide 25 minutes of news condensed into five minutes without any commercials! Although he was a familiar figure in Washington, D.C., Tim always found time to give back to the community. During the height of the dangerous cocaine epidemic in the 1980’s where many police officers were being targeted by “crack” drug dealers, Tim hosted a fund-raising event at a
Capitol Hill nightclub where proceeds were split between purchasing bulletproof vests for the D.C. police Department and supporting the U.S. Deaf Olympic teams. This was on top of his long list of accomplishments which also included selling cars and teaching sign language for several years to the U.S. Secret Service at the White House. Despite a busy life, Tim was one of those guys who would set aside time to help others less fortunate than him. He would advocate on a pro-bono basis for those who could not speak for
themselves in front of work supervisors and judges alike. He was very often successful. Since he moved to Ohio in 1986, he continued his work – helping a deaf couple fulfill their dream of buying a home through the federal low-income housing program, helping people get their cars repaired and advocating wherever he was needed. Tim was a friend and colleague to all he met. He was respected by his peers, a community leader and a role model to many deaf students. Tim will always be remembered for his great sense of
humor, his intense curiosity, his easy laugh, and most of all, for his genuine interest and concern for everyone he met. To know him meant to enjoy his true friendship. He has gone “Over the Rainbow.” Farewell. Tim was laid to rest by his family in Rawlins, Wyoming. Memorial services will be announced
soon for Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Ohio where family, friends and guests are invited to pay their respects and to celebrate Tim’s life including his dedication to social justice.