OBITUARY
Timothy F. McGinnis [1951-2014]; Ex-GM worker was alcohol, drug counselor
Avid runner an advocate for recovering addicts
6/10/2014Timothy F. McGinnis, a drug and alcohol counselor who had coordinated the employee assistance program at GM Powertrain, died Friday in Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. He was 62.
His wife, Carol McGinnis, said he suffered an apparent heart attack in their West Toledo home earlier that day. She said her husband, an avid runner, had no history of cardiac problems and had even jogged nine miles in the morning.
“He ran every day, rain or shine,” she said.
Mr. McGinnis joined the transmission plant on Alexis Road in 1969 and later, after overcoming drug and alcohol addictions, was promoted to coordinator of the employee assistance program for the United Auto Workers, Local 14.
Mrs. McGinnis said he applied for the position by submitting a meticulous hand-written cover letter and resume.
“They were so impressed with his resume that they hired him,” she said.
He began at the plant after graduating from Start High School in 1969, and entered the U.S. Coast Guard in 1972. After a six-year hitch, he returned to his job as a fork-lift operator.
Mrs. McGinnis said he entered rehab on Aug. 3, 1984, to deal with an alcohol and drug problem and he remained sober and drug-free for the rest of his life.
She said he spent about the last 12 years of his career at GM Powertrain as the employee assistance coordinator.
“We would get telephone calls in the middle of the night from people who were struggling or having problems. He went out and encouraged them to continue with their recovery,” Mrs. McGinnis said.
After retiring from the plant in 2008, he continued in dependency counseling at Workplace Resources and Behavioral Connections, where he was still working.
He was honored by Lucas County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services for his leadership and advocacy for people recovering from alcohol and drug abuse in 2004.
He was born Oct. 8, 1951, in Toledo to Georgian and William McGinnis. He married the former Carol Clay on Sept, 17, 1983.
Surviving are his wife, Carol; daughters, Erin McGinnis, Candace “Kelly” Marshall, and Tara McHenry; five grandchildren; mother, Georgian Phares; brother, Bill McGinnis, and sister, Janet McGinnnis.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in the Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 114 E. Alexis Rd., where services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The family suggests tributes to Wildwood Preserve Metropark or Compelled Church, Temperance.
Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.