Pioneer Class

His Obit:

At age 77, Tim passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Brightonian in Rochester, NY. He was born on October 21, 1948, in Rochester, NY, to the late Karl and Rita (Smith) Rock.

Survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Jeanne (Geyer) Rock, his children, Christine Rock, Jeffrey (Laurie) Rock, and Dennis Rock, his siblings, Annmarie Rock, Jamie (Casey) Rock, Sheila (Lucien) Rock-Cayer, his grandchildren, Amanda Braun, Delaney (Alex) Russ, Katryna Rock, Abigayle Rock, his great-grandchildren, Cecelia Jackson, and Wyatt Russ, along with several nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Tim took tremendous pride in his work as a professional civil engineer, a career that reflected his determined nature, precise mind, and lifelong ability to understand how things worked. His education began at St. Salome School in Irondequoit, where he walked to school each day. As a young man, he also worked as a paperboy. Tim graduated from Bishop Kearney High School in 1966. It was during those high school years that he met Jeanne while riding the school bus. The two became high school sweethearts and attended their prom together.

Following high school, Tim attended the Ranger School in Wanakena, located in the Adirondacks, graduating in 1968. It was there that he discovered his interest in surveying, an experience that helped shape the direction of his future career. In 1969, he continued his education at Syracuse University, where he studied engineering. He ultimately earned two degrees, one in forestry engineering and another in civil engineering.

Tim and Jeanne were married in 1970 and went on to welcome their daughter, Christine, in 1972; their son, Jeff, in 1974; and their son, Dennis, in 1976. In December of 1976, the family moved to Honeoye and settled into a home built in 1823. Tim devoted countless hours to rebuilding and restoring the more than 200-year-old house. It became one of his proudest personal accomplishments and a lasting example of his craftsmanship, patience, and determination.

Throughout his career, Tim worked on numerous civil engineering projects that had a lasting impact on communities throughout the region. He spent 10 years with Sear-Brown, and from 1978 to 1979, he worked on the design of wastewater infrastructure in preparation for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. In 1980, he designed a water treatment plant for Wayland. His work also included various projects throughout the Rochester area, including the ponds at Marketplace Mall.

Tim shared his professional expertise with several communities, serving as municipal engineer for the towns of Avon, Corning, West Bloomfield, and Springwater. He also served as chairman of the Town of Richmond Planning Board. Tim later concluded his career with Larsen Engineers in Henrietta, retiring after many years devoted to a profession he valued so deeply. Civil engineering was much more than a job to Tim. It was an important part of who he was, and he was extremely proud of the work he accomplished.

Outside of his career, Tim enjoyed photography, fixing things, reading, watching PBS, and traveling. His family often joked that he had read “every book in the library,” and mysteries were among his favorites. His travels took him throughout the American West, including Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park. He also enjoyed visiting Washington, D.C., the Thousand Islands, and many destinations throughout the Adirondacks, including Old Forge and Mount Marcy.

Tim had a particular appreciation for historic places and enjoyed visiting Gettysburg. His favorite trip was to Appomattox Court House in Virginia, where the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia signaled the effective end of the Civil War. Whether exploring an important piece of American history, repairing something around the house, or becoming absorbed in a good mystery, Tim approached his interests with the same curiosity and attention to detail that defined his professional life.

Tim will be remembered as determined, precise, neat, and endlessly capable. He also knew how to cook a great hamburger, a skill he carried with him from his time working at Bill Gray’s. His intelligence, craftsmanship, and dedication were evident in everything he did, from the communities he helped shape as an engineer to the historic home he so proudly restored.