Richard William Timm

Richard William Timm (March 2, 1923 – September 11, 2020) was a Catholic Priest, educator, zoologist, and development worker. He was the Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Dhaka and a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province. He was also one of the founders of Notre Dame College in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[2] He was the 6th principal (1970 to 1972) of Notre Dame College.

Father

Richard William Timm

C.S.C
Timm at CORR–The Jute Works (2012)
Born(1923-03-02)March 2, 1923
Michigan City, Indiana, United States
DiedSeptember 11, 2020(2020-09-11) (aged 97)
South Bend, Indiana, United States
Alma mater
OccupationCatholic priest, educator, zoologist, researcher and activist
Organization
Awards

Born under German ancestry from both sides on March 2, 1923, in Michigan City, Indiana, USA,[3] Timm is the second among the four siblings – Elder Brother Bob, who died on Okinawa in World War II, and younger sisters Mary Jo Schiel and Genevieve Gantner.

Research works

Timm, as a biologist, conducted exclusive surveys on Nematodes and discovered over 250 new species.[4]

Timm's scientific expeditions involved a landscape spanning from Antarctica Penguin Colonies to the Mangrove of South Asia. Many of his expeditions were confined in the area of the Sundarbans and other parts of South Asia but he covered many other parts of the world as well. His other expeditions include Africa, Europe, Antarctica and The Americas.

Among others, Timm described the following taxa:

  • Timmia parva – marine nematode.[5][6]
  • Two varieties of Aphelenchoides – marine nematodes with Dr. Mary Franklyn.[7]
  • Imponema, Filiponema and Plutellonema – three new genera of earth nematodes with Dr. Armand Maggenti.[8]
  • Two varieties of Megadontolaimus – a marine nematode genus from Cox's Bazar.[9]

Works in spreading education
Father Richard Timm Building at Notre Dame College

Since 1952, Timm has been working in the education sector of first the east Bengal province of Pakistan and then Bangladesh. He was a recognized person for the operations of Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in November 1949, the college is still carrying on with its reputation and quality and is one of the best educational institutions in Bangladesh by the official ranking. He also took the responsibility of the Principal of Notre Dame College for the term 1970-71 and worked as the Director of Studies as well. He was still connected to the college though not taking part in academic activities. He is also the founder of the Science Departments in Notre Dame College and the pioneer for the club activities. He is also the founder of both Notre Dame Debating Club and Notre Dame Science Club which are the first debating club and the first science club in Bangladesh.[4]

The Textbook of College Biology is a writing of Timm that served as a textbook for East Pakistani – Bangladeshi schools for many years. This text is actually an extension of a book by A. Bhuya of Dhaka Government College but not much of the original version was preserved in the extension. A Laboratory Manual for College Biology was a predecessor for the text, though didn't have the popularity due to the comparatively higher price.

Social development activities

Timm could be considered the Father of NGO (Non government organizations. mainly for development) in Bangladesh. His activities served as the initiating force for the Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB), the Coordinator Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh (CCHRB) and South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR). He was a consultant for Caritas Bangladesh and a board member of several Caritas projects as well as the projects of other NGOs.[3]

Activities during the Liberation War of Bangladesh

Activities during the war

Timm expressed his opinion about the incidents and against the genocide on the liberation war of Bangladesh through his writing. He emphasized the difficult situations of civilians and the violation of human rights. His letters written to Rohde served to build public opinion around the world and especially in United States against the war in Bangladesh.

He also conducted relief works for the distressed at the time of the war.[10]

Activities on reconstruction

After the liberation war of Bangladesh, Timm actively took part in the newborn country's reconstruction work together with the UN, USAID, CORR (The Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation, later Caritas) and CRS.[4] The rehabilitation effort was conducted among the homeless and those who have lost all in the war.[11]

Disaster response

On November 12, 1970, a great cyclone struck the coastal areas of East Pakistan and killed at least 50,000 people. Timm, assisted by the students of Notre Dame College, CORR (The Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation, later Caritas) and HELP (Heartland Emergency Life-Saving Project), conducted several relief expeditions in the affected areas. The response was among the biggest of those taken by Non-government people.[11]

On other disasters, including the great flood of 1998, Notre Dame College and Caritas both participated in the relief effort both in and out of Dhaka City under the participation and influence of Timm.

Death

Timm died in South Bend, Indiana on September 11, 2020.[12]

Publications

Timm's publications include numerous research papers and books.

Books
  • Timm, Richard W. (1995). Forty Years in Bangladesh: Memoirs of Father Timm. Caritas Bangladesh.
  • The Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of Thailand and The Philippines published by SEATO in 1965

Awards and recognitions

Timm was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1987 for International Understanding.[4]

In response to his activities for development, Timm was honored with the citizenship from three different governments.

Among the many varieties of Nematodes he discovered, the Marine Nematode Timmia parva was named after Timm himself.[5][6]

See also

References
  1. Zengarini, Lisa (September 17, 2020). "Dolor por la muerte del misionero americano Richard Timm". Vatican News (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  2. "Father Richard William Timm, a true friend of Bangladesh, dies". The Daily Star. 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  3. "Richard W Timm". nemaplex.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  4. "Timm, Richard William". The Ramon Magsaysay Award. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Timmia parva (Timm, 1952)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  6. "Timmia parva (Timm, 1952)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  7. Franklin, Mary T.; Timm, R. W. (1969-01-01). "Two Marine Species of Aphelenchoides". Nematologica. 15 (3): 370–375. doi:10.1163/187529269X00434. ISSN 0028-2596.
  8. Timm, R W; Timm, R. W.; Maggenti, A. R. (1966). "Nematode parasites of the coelomic cavity of earthworms. V. Plutellonema, Iponema and Filiponema, new genera (Drilonematidae)". Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington. 33: 177–184. ISSN 0018-0130.
  9. "Chromadoridae". bug.tamu.edu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  10. "Victory Day Special". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  11. University, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown. "A Discussion with Father Richard William Timm, Congregation of Holy Cross". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  12. "Father Richard William Timm passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
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