The natural world fascinated the late Tim Oliver, providing him a career in biology and a lifelong love for mountains.
Oliver, an associate research professor in the cell biology department, died March 24. As the director of imaging for the department, Oliver’s work revolved around light microscopy imaging techniques that led to greater understanding of cells, tissues, organs and organisms.
“He liked to experience the natural world, to be in it and record it,” said Oliver’s partner, Wendy Moses. “It wasn’t as much a study as it was an immersion.”
Oliver, described by Moses as generous and encouraging, was born and raised in North Wales. He attended a university in Plymouth, England, and worked in London until moving to North Carolina, where he completed his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“The major feeling of all of the students he helped was that he was incredibly patient and generous,” said Brigid Hogan, chair of the cell biology department. “He contributed to hundreds of papers, but he wasn’t always the first author. He was an author who was there as a major collaborator.”
Oliver worked extensively in collaboration with other departments—ranging from medicine to anthropology—and helped students and faculty to better their understanding of microscopy.
“He loved the microscope first and foremost, and he loved helping people to get beautiful images,” said Jonah Cool, a doctoral candidate in cell biology who worked with Oliver. “He really liked to push limits and expand upon them.”
Nature in its purest form was Oliver’s sanctuary and where he spent most of his free time. He loved climbing mountains, kayaking, rafting, sailing and taking photographs of nature and people. He climbed everywhere from mountains in Peru to the Alps, Moses said, and his favorite mountain was Tryfan in Snowdonia, Wales.
“He felt absolutely at home there. That area was the center of him,” Moses said. “He climbed and hiked and walked everywhere he could.”
His love of Wales extended beyond the mountains. Hogan, also from the United Kingdom, said she and Oliver spoke about how they missed the friendly, down-to-earth people and liberal social values that characterize the area.
In addition to his role as a scientist, Oliver was an artist. He was driven by creativity and loved painting and drawing. He also loved theater, opera and attending the ballet.
“He used creativity in all his endeavors,” Moses said. “That’s one of the things he was always searching for or trying to express.”
Oliver consistently made contacts beyond the scientific community. Moses recounted a time when the two of them found an installation art piece in the United Kingdom that they particularly liked and Oliver insisted on meeting the artist. The pair ultimately spoke with the artist and had the chance to look at more of his work.
“He would go ahead, make the contact and encourage,” Moses said. “He made contacts throughout his life—not just in science, but in everything.”
Oliver is survived by his mother, older brother, uncle and cousins in North Wales as well as a vast circle of friends. A memorial gathering will take place April 15 at 4 p.m. in 147 Nanaline H. Duke Building with a reception to follow.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.