Tillman Terry dies at age 57
Released: November 22, 2005
Long-time UW-Whitewater employee Tillman Terry, 57, died Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. after suffering a brain aneurysm on Sunday night. Terry was assistant director Financial Aid.
A Chicago native and “huge” Bears and White Sox fan, Terry began working at UW-Whitewater in 1988, after earning his master’s degree at Loyola University.
According to Barb Jones, assistant chancellor for student affairs, “Students just thought the world of him. He went out of his way to make their lives easier, and he always made time for them.”
Carol Miller, director of the financial aid office and long-time co-worker of Terry’s, said, “We’re all terribly shocked and saddened. He was a great guy.”
The “great guy,” colleagues say, was a real “people person,” who loved nothing better than surrounding himself with family, friends and laughter.
A Whitewater resident, Miller said Terry, “Liked to cook for friends, and enjoyed entertaining.” He was passionate about food, and everyone who knew him acknowledges that he was a “popcorn connoisseur.”
“Yeah,” said friend and co-worker, student intern Derek Johnson. “Coffee and popcorn – that’s pretty much all he needed to get through the day.”
Johnson, a UW-Whitewater senior, was particularly hard hit by news of Terry’s death. Explaining that he has worked in the financial aid office since he was a freshman.“Tillman was the first one to show me around and introduce me to people.
“He was a frat brother of mine (Alpha Phi Alpha), and he became a father figure to me.He called me his son – he filled a void in my life. We’d hang out nearly every night and we could talk about anything. He provided me with great insight on issues going on in my life.
“All of the students liked to see him (when they came into the office) – whatever race. They knew he was the one to talk to. He would tell you the truth. He’d tell you if things were messed up. He was real.”
In his professional life, Terry was a very strong advocate for multi-cultural students, and lent his support to a number of related programs on campus. He often worked with university athletes, and head football coach Bob Berezowitz remembers Terry as, "A super person who cared about everyone. He had a special interest in the university as a whole, and this really is a big, big loss."
Terry is survived by three daughters and two grandchildren. Funeral service information is pending. A memorial service on campus is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 in the University Center.
- Barbro McGinn,
