COOPERSTOWN – Stephen Timothy Kilty, almost 90, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2023, after a long, happy life filled with his family, his Catholic faith, work, golf, and travel.
Tim was born in Stillwater, MN on June 7,1933, to Stephen MacGregor Kilty and Harriet Ryden. He attended the Stillwater High School and was involved in many sports, helping the Stillwater Ponies to a sectional championship in basketball in 1951 as a senior. As the salutatorian of his graduating high school class he was awarded a scholarship to attend Princeton University where he majored in economics and music, graduating in 1955. He was an avid golfer and met the love of his life, Dorothea Laura Simonet, at the Stillwater Country Club. They married in July 1955 and he was promptly drafted into the US Army. Stationed in Chicago he served in the Counter Intelligence division for two years with an honorable discharge. He began his career as a successful salesman with 3M and other manufacturing industries in the “steel belt”, moving frequently around the Midwest from St. Paul, MN to Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, OH, Sharon, PA, Dallas, TX, and settling in the Cleveland area, in Bay Village, OH in 1968. He co-owned Elyria Spring Co. for the last 15 years of his career.
His love of golf and mowing the lawn evolved into an interest in golf course greens management and the rules of golf. Once the “nest” was empty he and Dorothy became experts in the rules of golf and ruled at both amateur and professional tournaments including several US Open Golf Championships. Tim was appointed to the executive committee of the US Golf Association in 1995 and served on the Greens Committee. He travelled to many nations to organize and rule at international golf tournaments in Asia, Europe, and South America.
He retired to Spring Island, SC in 1999, enjoyed birdwatching, and became a Master Naturalist. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Savannah Wildlife Refuge, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, GA. In 2016 he relocated to Cooperstown, NY to spend his final years near his daughter under the care of the wonderful staff at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home and AO Fox Nursing Home.
Tim had a wonderful sense of humor and a quick mind. He had nicknames for everyone so the Family created nicknames for him. We will miss you Grampa Putt-Putt. Rest in Peace with Mom and Mary.
He is predeceased by his wife, Dorothy, and his daughter, Mary Claire. He is survived by his sister, Anne Wiberg (DesPlaines, IL) daughter, Laura Kilty (Bruce Kramer) of Cooperstown, NY, his son, David Kilty (Marie) of Centennial, CO, his grandchildren, Anna Kramer, Madeline Kramer, Evelyn Kilty, and Ian Kilty, and nephews John Timothy Wiberg and Benjamin Wiberg.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with the Very Rev. Michael G. Cambi, pastor officiating. The Service of Committal and Burial with Military Honors will follow in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Habitat for Humanity.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
