In early August 1993, Tim Strachan was the 17-year-old star senior quarterback for DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, on vacation with his family when a devastating swimming accident at Bethany Beach, Delaware, left him paralyzed, forever altering the course of his life.
Turning a tragedy into multiple triumphs throughout the next 32 years, Strachan often said he never once questioned his destiny and firmly believed God was with him at every moment. Those moments went on to include: graduating from high school in 1994 with honors and on time, earning his bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Maryland, radio broadcasting 22 seasons of Terrapins Football, graduating from Georgetown University Law School, serving as an attorney for the Federal Communications Commission, becoming a motivational speaker and cherishing his happiest roles as a husband and as the father of three children. On July 8, Strachan died at the age of 49 following a year-long cancer illness.
More than 1,000 mourners gathered in DeMatha’s Morgan & Kathy Wootten Gymnasium on July 21 to pray for and remember in words and song the life, legacy and faith of a courageous man who overcame tremendous adversity to achieve a much larger degree of greatness off the gridiron.
Speakers during the vigil all expressed how much of an inspiration Strachan was to everyone who knew and loved him, as well as to those who had only heard of his powerful story.
Local sports broadcaster Johnny Holliday said of his Maryland Terrapin Radio Network cohost and lifelong Kensington, Maryland neighbor, “Complain was never in Tim’s vocabulary, but determination and resilience were. He never questioned the cards he was dealt after his life-changing accident. Instead, he accomplished more in his 49 years than I have in my lifetime.”
As the University of Maryland’s play-by-play announcer, Holliday suggested that Strachan, who at the time was helping coach the Terps’ quarterbacks, start sideline reporting during the games. Eventually Strachan moved into the broadcast booth as a color analyst with Holliday and fine-tuned his craft.
Holliday also recalled Strachan’s sense of humor, as well as his gifts as a broadcaster and a motivational speaker, describing his former colleague and friend as “an incredible gift from God” who lifted everyone up if they were having a bad day.
“Around Kensington, he was the unofficial mayor. Tim was basically everywhere – Holy Redeemer for Mass, the post office, helping coach young kids, and (at) the Safeway, where he was a regular with (his son) Luke on his lap,” said Holliday. “…And at Maryland, Tim was the guy. The players loved him…The memories of ‘T’ will live forever. Tim was my hero,” said Holliday, choking back his tears.
Prior to the vigil, family and friends, including Strachan’s former classmates, teammates and colleagues, as well as members of the DeMatha football squad wearing their jerseys, for two hours filed past his casket adorned with a flower spray in the red, white and blue DeMatha school colors, offering their hugs and condolences to his wife, Leslie and their three children, Sophie, Olivia and 6-year-old Luke, and his parents, Mary and Rich Strachan.
NFL sportscaster James Brown, a 1969 DeMatha graduate, spoke during the vigil of Strachan’s unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. At the request of Leslie Strachan, Brown visited his fellow DeMatha alumnus in his last days at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. While there, he called former NFL Coach Tony Dungy to join them in prayer over FaceTime during Strachan’s final hours.
“Tim was the consummate quarterback, applying a competitor’s determination in overcoming odds and executing a game plan as admirable as any I have ever seen,” Brown said.
“We are all on clock and we don’t have a lot of time, and our offensive coordinator is Jesus Christ. Whatever play Jesus sent in to Timmy to run in the game of life, he was able to handle any and every circumstance,” Brown said. “Those plays came whether he was in church on Sunday or Bible study or even in personal prayer… To God be the glory, and what an awesome example our brother in Christ Tim Strachan was.”
In addition to his broadcasting duties and his career as an attorney, Strachan also served as a professional and in-demand motivational speaker, sharing his impactful story of his conquering his obstacles and encouraging others to do the same with any of life’s challenges. In 1999, Strachan was named the Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine. He was also the recipient of several other honors, including the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award from DeMatha, and numerous local trophies and awards were named for him.
Strachan was the 2014 DeMatha commencement speaker and told the graduates from his motorized wheelchair that, “No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I feel that God is with me and when I need Him most, He’ll be there.”
Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis was also among those who called Strachan a dear friend. He met her not long after his accident through his older brother, Beau, who was working on the set of the movie “True Lies” that was filming in Washington, D.C., and the two stayed in touch throughout the years. In a Facebook message to Strachan after he congratulated her on her 2023 Academy Award, Curtis wrote back: “I love you ‘T’! You are the exemplar of life on life’s terms, and you sit up and show up with LOVE and SUPPORT and DEDICATION to FAMILY.”
Kevin Ricca, Strachan’s childhood best friend and a former rival quarterback at St. John’s College High School in Washington, thanked the DeMatha community for the outpouring of love and support extended to Strachan and his family from the moment of his injury to today. As witnesses of strength and dedication, Ricca also singled out Strachan’s parents, his caregivers, his three older brothers, his three children and his wife Leslie, whose devotion to her husband, Ricca said, was a “level of love I have never witnessed.”
“Thirteen days ago, in (hospital) room 13 we lost our favorite number 13,” Ricca said. “…T’s story was never about what could have been but always about what he accomplished in the face of fulltime adversity… T had many choices to make, but he made the one that was to live. You only die once, but for 11,659 days after his injury he showed up to fight and live every single day… He was so special and what an inspiration.”
Ricca recalled a recent prime example of Strachan’s true grit and bravery. While fighting a bout of sepsis due to his cancer, Strachan checked himself out of Sibley Hospital in November against medical advice to broadcast for 1st Amendment Sports streaming service the 2024 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship football game of DeMatha versus Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, a matchup in which the Stags were victorious, 16-7, and secured the team’s first WCAC title since 2016.
“(T) you were our gift, and we should all be forever thankful for that and everyone in this room will always be, because we love you so much. He was the most amazing man I’ve ever met in my life," said Ricca.
Strachan’s daughter, Sophie, sang a stirring rendition of, “Counting My Blessings,” accompanied by local musician Sean Gaiser. Olivia Strachan, another of Tim’s daughters, read her dad’s favorite poem, “The Station” by Robert Hastings, which shares a message of finding joy in everyday moments and to cherish the present.
A few months after his accident, Strachan was interviewed by the Catholic Standard in November 1993 while undergoing grueling occupational and physical therapy at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C. His main goal at the time was to receive his high school diploma with his classmates and succeed in therapy. A Bible verse from Romans 8:18 which gave him inspiration was taped to his bedside that read, “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.”
During the early days of his spinal cord injury, the students at Holy Redeemer School, Kensington, were among the many area Catholics fervently praying for Strachan’s recovery. One of the daily prayers Strachan said with his parents concluded with the words, “Father, restore me to full health in mind and body, so that I may serve You for the rest of my life.”
“It (my faith) is really something I hold on to. I feel if I have a strong faith, everything will work out,” Strachan said. Looking ahead to the future, Strachan told the Catholic Standard that whether he was in or out of a wheelchair, he wanted to be able to look back on that, his most challenging season, and say simply, “I’ve lived each day to the fullest.”
For a school that had witnessed so many sports victories over the years, Strachan’s triumphant return to DeMatha in January of 1994 was perhaps one of the most unforgettable and legendary. At that time, he said the most important lesson he learned from his ordeal was to “have a strong faith in God and understand that He has a plan for everybody. Keep a strong faith and do what is right.”
His number 13 football jersey was retired later that year and is displayed in the Lt. (SEAL) Brendan Looney ’99 Convocation Center at DeMatha. At the time of his injury, Strachan had planned to play football on a full scholarship at Penn State University and was one of the top five ranked high school quarterbacks in the country. Instead, he accepted the University of Maryland’s previous football scholarship offer to remain close to home.
Trinitarian Father Damian Anuszewski of DeMatha led the gathering in the closing invocation, offering prayers for Strachan’s eternal rest. Following the final blessing, Strachan’s casket, escorted by the pallbearers – his three older brothers and several nephews – and followed by his wife, children and parents, was solemnly processed out of the gymnasium, departing Strachan’s beloved DeMatha Catholic High School campus for the last time.
Timothy Boldt Strachan’s survivors include his wife, Leslie Neale Strachan, two daughters, Sophie and Olivia, a son, Luke; his parents, Rich and Mary; his brothers, Beau (Marybeth), Bret (Katy) and Pooh (Michele) Strachan; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the next day on July 22 at Holy Redeemer Parish in Kensington, where Strachan was a lifelong parishioner. Interment was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring.
The T13 Fund has been set up to aid Timothy Strachan’s family in their time of need. For information, go online to:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/t13-fund-honoring-the-legacy-of-tim-strachan
