Tim Darrin '74 brought his hot air balloon to campus in the 80's.
By Nickolas Neibauer ’05
Director of Advancement and Alumni
Those who knew Tim Darrin ’74 will remember him first for his warmth—his easy laugh, genuine interest in others, and the way he made friends feel instantly at home, whether on a Franklin campus walkway or thousands of miles away. Tim passed away in 2025, but his presence continues to be felt deeply across the Franklin community through the many lives he touched and through the newly established Tim Darrin ’74 Scholarship Fund, created in his honor.
Tim’s relationship with Franklin did not end at graduation. It evolved into a lifelong commitment grounded in friendship, curiosity, and a belief in the transformative power of international education. He gave his time and energy generously, not because he felt obligated, but because—true to his nature—he found joy in staying connected.
In 2001, following a reunion in Los Angeles, Tim became a founding member of Franklin’s Western Action Group, a network of engaged alumni and friends based in the western United States. The group, which grew to more than 30 members, played an important role in strengthening alumni engagement, supporting advancement efforts, assisting with admissions outreach, and raising awareness of Franklin across Southern and Northern California. Tim once described his involvement simply and characteristically: “I really enjoy being a part of this group. I am able to assist in increasing awareness of the College, yet I am not obligated to duties of a full, formal position.” It was a sentiment that reflected both his humility and his enthusiasm for contributing in meaningful ways.
That enthusiasm often took memorable—and sometimes adventurous—forms. Alongside his dear friend and fellow alumnus Kevin McNeely ’73, Tim organized a wine country gathering in Northern California in 2003, bringing together Franklin friends around good conversation, shared memories, and excellent wine. It was exactly the kind of experience Tim loved to curate: convivial, thoughtful, and rooted in connection.
Adventure was, in fact, a defining thread of Tim’s life. An accomplished hot air balloon pilot, he was featured multiple times in The Franklin Gazette for his remarkable journeys. He once flew over Paris to retrace the path of the world’s first manned hot air balloon flight. On another occasion—much closer to home—Tim brought his balloon to campus and gave Franklin students the unforgettable experience of soaring above the very place that had shaped him decades earlier.
Franklin, and Ticino in particular, left a lasting imprint on Tim. He carried that influence with him throughout his life, even recreating it back home. His Napa residence and vineyard were carefully styled in Ticinese fashion, a testament to how deeply those years resonated. Friends Theo and Viv Brenner fondly recall a visit during which Tim asked Viv for her grappa recipe. Not only did he master it, but he later returned bearing gifts—wine from his own Napa vineyard—shared, of course, in the spirit of friendship.
It is this spirit—generous, curious, joyful, and deeply human—that the Tim Darrin ’74 Scholarship Fund seeks to honor. Established through the extraordinary generosity of the KHR McNeely Family Foundation and the Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust, the endowed fund will support future Franklin students who embody Tim’s values and who seek to engage the world with openness and purpose.
From now until the end of July 2026, the Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust is offering to match all donations towards this endowment, up to a total of $250,000.
For Tim’s classmates and friends, supporting this scholarship is more than an act of philanthropy. It is a way to celebrate a life well lived, to extend Tim’s belief in Franklin’s mission, and to ensure that future students have access to the kind of transformative experience that shaped him so profoundly.
As one friend put it simply: Tim never stopped being part of Franklin. Through this scholarship—and through the community he helped build—he never will.