Vincent Martell

Thursday, May 29, 2025

I know it's been nearly 20 years since Tim's untimely passing. But I was just talking about him the other night with my friend Gary Esposito and wanted to share it on here. Gary and I worked with Tim at Matthew Bender in the 90s. It was an incredible group to work with, especially at my first job out of college. It was Gary, James Howard, Theresa Manheim, CJ Henderson (who posted on here in 2009 and has sadly, since passed). We all worked under Tim and he was the best boss anyone could ever ask for. Not only that, he was one of the warmest, kindest, funniest, most talented people I've ever met. I had never had an interest in theater before. He bought our group tickets for Phantom of the Opera as a holiday gift in December 1991. I was hooked and he loved talking to me and to all of us about Broadway and directing and writing and his love of theater. It was infectious.

He was not a sports fan, but he knew how much I loved it and would go out of his way to talk about college basketball with me, and he would watch the University of Arkansas during the March Madness tourney every year.

Friday mornings we would sit around his office and talk about the Seinfeld episode the night before. When Gary and I would want to leave early to go to an afternoon Yankee game he would pause, look at us, roll his eyes and says "Well alriiiight." We worked together at Bender until a downsizing in 1995. I saw him only sporadically after that, and would see him on AOL and Instant Message him sometimes (dating myself here with the AOL reference but it was the best instant communication we had back then!) and I remember running into him on 53rd Street on a winter afternoon a few years later. He and Joe were moving to California and he seemed absolutely thrilled to start this next chapter in his life.

When I first heard of his passing it was hard to believe I would never see him again, and that last random encounter on a city street was the last memory I would have of seeing that big smile.

The topic of Tim came up the other night because Gary and I went to see Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway. We remembered Tim talking about the making of the film in his Sheepshead Bay neighborhood back in 1992 and how Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon would say hi to the locals during breaks in filming. He talked about how great the play was and I remember seeing the movie in '92 and loving it. And here it was, 30-something years later, and two of Tim's former employees (friends for nearly 35 years) seeing a play featuring Bob Odenkirk (who Tim loved from The Ben Stiller Show), talking about Tim and the great days of working with him as if was yesterday. And that's how it feels - like yesterday. I don't think of Tim's short life. I think of how Tim would be 70 years old this year and how he would love social media, laugh at the state of politics and how he would still be involved in theater. I've had a billion jobs since I worked with Tim, but I'll say it again: he was the best boss I ever had. And that's because of the wonderful person he was and is - in our memories and in our hearts. Rest in Peace Tim Blythe. God Bless you.

Bill Lindsey

Sunday, July 15, 2012

I have just now learned of Tim's death. I am saddened beyond belief, but, even more, I'm blessed to have known him.

The first time I ever saw Tim was when he performed in Cabaret at AC. He was mesmerizing on stage and even moreso off it.

Our paths crossed next when he arrived in Fayetteville to attend the U of A. Though we had only met once, it was like "old home week" when Tim and I started to talk. We enjoyed many adventures in Fayetteville, including acting together in The Fantasticks. At the end of that school year, Tim won an acting honor for his performance in that show. Tim played the wall...he had no lines. He made an indelible impression without ever opening his mouth. Tim was like that.

In 1981, Tim and I moved to NYC and lived in Brooklyn with Bob Mayfield and Bill Lucky for a while. Four young friends from Arkansas just living our version of la vida loca in the big city :-)
I soon left New York, and that was the last I heard of Tim...until now.

Thanks, Tim, you were such an inspiration to me. Rest comfortably, dear friend.

Bob Scruggs

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Cheers to Tim!
I remember his best in Cabaret. He was the emcee. I was operating the lights. I'd not have been able to remember the lines. He dished them out with flair!
Bob Scruggs, Class of '77

cj henderson

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Tim Blythe was my boss and my friend. We shared a love of theater, and spent much of our time together trying to out-ham one another. He was my boss for a while, but we were friends before I worked under him, and when we were both down-sized into the street, we were still friends.

Tim was a wonderful person, far better adjusted than me it always seemed. He was patient and quiet where I was always, well ... the opposite. He taught me much about myself simply by being the person he was, and giving me a yardstick against which I could measure myself and hopefully improve. I am saddened to no end to hear of his passing. The world is absolutely a less friendly place to be with his passing.

Dona Ternai

Monday, October 24, 2005

I'm very sad to have lost a very special person. I pray he has found the peace and happiness that he so yearned. Tim will be greatly missed by so many people. Love, Dona

Lottie (Branscum) Walters

Friday, October 21, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have wonderful memories of Tim when we were growing up. We talked a lot waiting for the school bus at the corner. I remember a very bright and joyful young man. I am very sorry for your loss.

Carol Morris Thompson

Thursday, October 20, 2005

My prayers and thoughts go with the family. Tim will be missed.

Melissa Simmons Drury

Thursday, October 20, 2005

God bless the Blythe family during your time of loss.

Cindy (Branscum) Fox

Thursday, October 20, 2005

I am very sorry for your loss. I have very fond memories of growing up next door to Tim and the time we got to spend with him. He always seemed to enjoy life and everyone around him had fun. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sam & Jeannie Beasley

Thursday, October 20, 2005

We are sorry for your loss

Julie Burchfield

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

God Bless You, Tim.

Darryl & Shirley Muck

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Always will be a "Masterpiece ..." to us! .....and terribly missed.

Michele Conroy

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

To Tim's family and dearest friends: I am so sad to hear of Tim's passing. I worked with him from mid-2000 thru early 2004 at Rainmaker. What a vibrant person. Such fun. And so attentive to detail. He managed an octopus of shedules for the mailing, faxing, voicemailing and emailing of marketing pieces. He gave it the same energy he gave to theatre production. And how he loved the theatre! I can still see him in shirts & sweatshirts from different shows. And I can still picture him pulling out of the parking lot at day's end in his little silver VW beetle. Your memories will be wonderful to cherish. But I know you will miss him terribly.

Liann Reyes

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

My thoughts & prayers are with you all.

Ann Wright

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

I think I am a better person since meeting and getting to know Tim. Everyone that knew him will miss him.

Alexandra Chartier

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

I am deeply sadden by the news of Tim's sudden death. I had the pleasure of working with Tim for a number of years and also worked with him in a small studio theatre production of 'The Odd Couple'. While we were supposed to be "working" I enjoyed hearing about Tim's family and friends especially his dear friend Dana and her wonderful wedding. Tim always had time for me and provided both a shoulder and an ear whenever I needed it. My heart goes out to the Blythe family, friends and also to Joe, Tim seemed to sparkle when sharing stories of their adventures together. May we all find comfort in the fond and loving memories we are fortunate to have shared with Tim. And may we all look forward to seeing him again when the fragrance of our own lives has left us. "Save me a seat Tim, I know it won't be long before you are working on a Heavenly production of some theatre classic". Your fan, Alex. xo

Gail Krause

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Tim touched my life for a little while, but I feel like I've known him all my life. A very special man. I miss him.

Danny & Betty Brightwell

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

We were so sorry to hear about Tim's passing. We want the family to know that we hold them in our prayers during this time of sadness.

Scherry Hampton Thompson

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Aunt Tommie, and everyone-during this difficult time. Words cannot express the sorrow I feel.

Tim and Ruth Stewart

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers are with you....

Kay Stice

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

One of the first people I met when I began work at Arkansas College (now Lyon) was Tim. He immediately made me feel at ease and welcome. While he was a student working for the Development Office, I was a full-time employ doing the same. We spent countless hours laughing while doing our jobs in the basement of the Smith Science Building. While I did not always get to see him often in the past several years, everytime I did we picked up where we had left off before and were immediately laughing and telling stories about things from those days in the basement. I am glad to have been able to count him as a friend and want his family to know how much he will be missed. He touched many lives!