Remembering Timothy Knox H'96 P'94
Mr. Timothy Knox H'96 P'94, KUA’s seventeenth Head of School passed away on May 25, 2024. His legacy as an educator pre-dates his arrival on The Hilltop, as does his commitment to three KUA programmatic pillars of academics, athletics, and arts.
A Letter from Head of School Tyler Lewis to the KUA Community:
With a heavy heart, I want to share with the KUA community that Mr. Timothy Knox H'96 P'94, KUA’s seventeenth Head of School passed away on May 25, 2024. Tim’s legacy as an educator pre-dates his arrival on The Hilltop, as does his commitment to three KUA programmatic pillars of academics, athletics, and arts.
With a heavy heart, I want to share with the KUA community that Mr. Timothy Knox H'96 P'94, KUA’s seventeenth Head of School passed away on May 25, 2024. Tim’s legacy as an educator pre-dates his arrival on The Hilltop, as does his commitment to three KUA programmatic pillars of academics, athletics, and arts.
Tim was not only a lifelong learner and imminently curious student, with degrees from Dartmouth College and Columbia University, but a teacher whose love of the classroom was felt by his students at both the high school and collegiate levels. Like his father, Tim was a gifted athlete, who was a stand-out in football and skiing, and selected as an All-State football player in his senior year. However, it is the arts where many from KUA remember his legacy most boldly.
In 1989, when Tim was hired as Head of School and he and Liz joined the KUA community, the Flickinger Arts Center had been completed, so staffing the new facility was one of Tim’s first charges. Not only did he match the state-of-the-art facility with an excellent cadre of faculty, but also professionals whose careers would span decades.
Throughout his tenure as head from 1989 to 2003, a long list of meaningful accomplishments continues to define our culture to this day. Doe Dining Hall, the E.E. Just Environmental Center, and the modernization of Chellis Hall were key building initiatives, along with significant programmatic impacts including the institution of the honor code, increased access to technology, and meaningful progress in our girl’s programs.
KUA’s Current Board Chair, Molly Bourne Steffey ’92, remembered Tim fondly and noted his commitment to campus culture, his presence at athletic and artistic events, and his care of the students. "He took an interest in us all and made us feel at home.”
The Knox family has remained close to The Academy throughout retirement and it has been a great pleasure for me to get to know them and learn from their experience and love of KUA. Fittingly, I first met Tim and Liz Knox H'99 P'94 in Flickinger Auditorium, attending our production of Mamma Mia in 2019. From that first encounter forward, Tim and Liz have not only offered me their support in any capacity that would be helpful to The Academy, but shown their support and love of KUA, as can only be done by those with deep personal connections throughout the students, employees, parents, board members and alumni who have passed through The Academy over the past three and a half decades.
The flag on The Hilltop is flown at half-mast throughout our end-of-year faculty meetings. A shadow noted on the Baxter bell tower seems a fitting symbol of our feelings at the loss of a KUA icon who was as symbolic of excellence at KUA for a generation of students, as the bell tower itself.
Condolences can be sent to the Knox family at Little Mountain Farm, Pendine, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4PT, UK. Please no flowers.
The Knox family has remained close to The Academy throughout retirement and it has been a great pleasure for me to get to know them and learn from their experience and love of KUA. Fittingly, I first met Tim and Liz Knox H'99 P'94 in Flickinger Auditorium, attending our production of Mamma Mia in 2019. From that first encounter forward, Tim and Liz have not only offered me their support in any capacity that would be helpful to The Academy, but shown their support and love of KUA, as can only be done by those with deep personal connections throughout the students, employees, parents, board members and alumni who have passed through The Academy over the past three and a half decades.
The flag on The Hilltop is flown at half-mast throughout our end-of-year faculty meetings. A shadow noted on the Baxter bell tower seems a fitting symbol of our feelings at the loss of a KUA icon who was as symbolic of excellence at KUA for a generation of students, as the bell tower itself.
Condolences can be sent to the Knox family at Little Mountain Farm, Pendine, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4PT, UK. Please no flowers.
