Timothy Hastings Ragan, age 48, of Little Silver, passed away peacefully at home July 3, 2022, with his loving family by his side after a courageous 19-year battle with brain cancer that he attacked with his steadfast and quiet fortitude.
Tim was authentic, pursuing many avenues of interest that truly made him a Renaissance man. He was incredibly skilled at mold making and sculpture, a gifted artist whose determination and vision shaped everything he did. Tim brought great joy to his stepsons when teaching them to use their hands while crafting Sculpey or encouraging them to make art with everyday objects. His interests were usually centered on nature and harnessing the beauty within. Whether it be hiking to his favorite spot to see the wild horses in Chincoteague, Virginia, surfing off Sea Girt beach, gardening beautiful “Dark Star” zucchini, skiing in Killington, Vermont – this is what made Tim happiest – being outside, even if just to throw the ball to his beloved dog Comet in the backyard.
One of his greatest passions was running. Inspired by his father’s lifelong commitment to the sport, Tim followed suit by not only entering half-marathons and marathons, but placing in them, with a fourth-place finish in the Kiawah, South Carolina, marathon in 2012. He was a member of the Shore Athletic Club where he participated in many 5-mile races, beyond count. Running brought Tim a disciplined Zen and he excelled beyond measure.
Tim was a mold maker, but ironically broke the mold when it came to his unconventional outlook on life. He loved live music; he was a longtime lover of the Grateful Dead, Talking Heads and Bob Marley. He was also a gifted physical comedian who was not only funny but could juggle!
As an inquisitive man, he wanted to learn more about the human body and that pursuit manifested in his chosen careers as a sculptor and then registered nurse. In each instance, his appreciation of caring for the human form radiated through his work.
Tim was born in Point Pleasant. He spent his early years in Sea Girt and Manasquan and graduated from Sea Girt Elementary School. He is a proud graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft where his father, brother and nephew are also alumni. After his time as a CBA Colt, he attended Providence College and then transferred to Monmouth University where he discovered his talent for the arts and graduated with a degree in fine arts. Tim then attended the New York Academy of Art and graduated with an MFA in sculpture.
While honing his skills, he worked for the acclaimed Hanlon Sculpture Studio in Ocean County, the internationally famous Jeff Koons studio in New York City, and the beloved Phil Fraley Productions in Edison. In each instance, Tim produced art works that were shown in museums around the world. One of his favorite projects at PFP was restoring dinosaur fossil remains that eventually were displayed around the country.
He also worked for himself at THR Studios and was commissioned by the Richard Nixon Presidential Library to recreate pieces from Nixon’s Oval Office.
After he was diagnosed with cancer, Tim decided to enter medical school, successfully applying to the SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine. His quest to understand the human body fueled his time there as a medical student. Unfortunately, a setback with his illness forced him to withdraw from medical school. When he was able, he continued to pursue a medical career and became a registered nurse. He attended Georgian Court University and achieved a B.S.N. in nursing. He worked most recently at Care One in Holmdel as an R.N., attending to the residents there with his charm, vast medical knowledge and sense of humor.
In the end, it was not cancer that beat him – it was Tim’s decision to acquiesce. For as his running guru George Sheehan said, “The mind’s first step to self-awareness must be through the body.”
Timothy was predeceased by his grandparents, Hap and Dot McKinley and Frank and Nelda Ragan. He is survived by his loving wife, Marcy Truska Ragan, and adoring stepsons, Wolfie and Graham Iler. He is also survived by his parents, Peter and Susan Ragan of Brielle; his brother Peter and his wife Kara, their children, Ryan, Colleen, Eleanor and Maeve of Manasquan; and his sister Kaitlin and her husband Patrick Cole and their children, Connor, Caroline and Emily of Brielle.
With respect to Tim’s wishes, he will be privately cremated. A celebration of his life took place July 12. The family requests that any donations be made in his memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087.
The article originally appeared in the July 14 – 20, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
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