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7/22/2008
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Born in Michigan, he was the son of Gerald W. Kurkowski of Michigan and Shirley (Palmer) Kurkowski of Florida. Besides his parents he leaves his sister, Jill A. Johnson and his brothers Daniel and Brian Kurkowski of Michigan; and his niece, Victoria Johnson and his nephew, Evan Johnson. Tim will be greatly missed by his special friends Susan Ring, Fred and Paula Hooper, David Robelo and his entire extended family at the farm and at Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Tim began his work with animals when he was 16, working at a local veterinary hospital in Michigan. During his life-long career as a keeper, he worked with animals including gorillas, orangutans, tigers, zebras, kangaroos, giraffes and many more. His work at Roger Williams Park Zoo as the zoo’s registrar used both his record-keeping skills and his ingenuity as he dealt with transporting animals to zoos throughout the world. He was looking forward to the 2009 Zoological Registrars Association conference at Zoo Boise where he was the conference program chairman.
Tim dedicated his life to helping animals and teaching others the science and conservation of animals and their habitats. In 1995 when Tim was awarded the Zoo Atlanta Gaston Fund Award, he attended a one-month Conservation Safari in Kenya. He also published an article in Zoo Biology on the “Effects of Feeding Enrichment on Behavior of Three Species of Captive Bears.” He was a contributing writer to Rhode Island Zoological Society Magazine and founder/editor of the North Smithfield Conservation Commission and the founder/editor of the staff RWP Zoo newsletter “Zoo Poo.” He was most proud of his work with the town of North Smithfield Conservation Commission, the Green Team conservation work at the RWP Zoo, and his work on the board of directors of the North Smithfield Public Library.
Tim’s love of animals was not limited to zoo animals. He shared his home with dogs, birds, rabbits, tortoise, guinea pigs and a snake. His tarantula shared his office space. He will not only be missed by his close family at home and at the zoo, but by the animals that relied on his care, love and attention.
To honor Tim’s wishes, a private service and burial were held earlier this week. For more information and to sign the online guestbook, please visit OlsonParent.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to RI Zoological Society for the Tim Kurkowski Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI O2907. Funeral arrangements are by Olson & Parent Funeral Home of Providence.
