Timothy Edward Engelland, 62, died November 1, 2012, in his Indianapolis residence. A lifelong artist, he specialized in oil portraits and landscapes, and also worked extensively in woodcuts and linocuts. He was born on January 5, 1950, in Ames, Iowa, the son of Charles Wilbur “Will” Engelland and Patricia Fairman Engelland.
Tim grew up in Terre Haute, attending Fairbanks Elementary School and Indiana State University’s Laboratory School. He knew he wanted to be an artist from an early age, and was mentored by Lab School’s John Laska, graduating in 1968. He received a BFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art; was a Norfolk Fellow at Yale University; and received his MFA from Cornell University, teaching there for two years after graduation. He spent the majority of his career, from 1976-2004, at Deerfield Academy, a prestigious preparatory school in Deerfield, Massachusetts. There he taught art and photography, coached basketball and lacrosse, and served as faculty resident. When the school began accepting female students, Tim designed “The Deerfield Girl,” a bronze statue to accompany “The Deerfield Boy” statue standing in the school’s Memorial Building. Along with John O’Brien and Peter Fallon, Tim founded the Deerfield Press, publisher of limited-edition illustrated poems and stories; James Dickey, John McPhee, and Seamus Heaney are among the authors whom the Press published. For several decades, Tim served on the faculty at the Advanced Placement Summer Institute in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and as a consultant to the College Board. He spent sabbaticals in New York City and Boston, and he has exhibited in galleries in those cities and many other venues. His work can be found in the National Library of Ireland, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and in private collections worldwide.
In 2004, Tim returned to Indiana. He was married to Susan Karen Carpenter from 2006 -2009. He painted and taught at the Indianapolis Art Center, he continued to study the natural world and to enjoy fine food and cooking, and he cherished the presence of animals (especially dogs) in his life. He is survived by his mother; his ex-wife; sisters Emily Engelland Wilson (Thomas) of Huntington, West Virginia, Leslie Engelland of Terre Haute, and Mary Engelland (Billy Twymon) of Evansville; brother John Engelland (Staci) of Nashville, Tennessee; nieces, nephews, and extended family; and many friends and former students who remember his gentleness and generosity. He is preceded in death by his father. Contributions in his memory may be made to Salvation Army, American Bat Conservation Society, or the social/wildlife organization of your choice. Deerfield is making plans to honor Tim’s life and work at the Academy at a future date to be announced. A family visitation and celebration of his life and art are scheduled at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Terre Haute on November 19 at 2 pm, with a memorial service at 4 p.m.