Timothy

TIMOTHY P. O'SHAUGHNESSY

1983 - 2016

Timothy was born on September 15, 1983 in Wichita, Kansas.  He was the fourth of six children born to Gerry and Priscilla O’Shaughnessy. Growing up, Timothy was adventurous and curious.  While he enjoyed spending time with friends, family, and playing sports, Timothy particularly enjoyed exploring the world around him. From an early age, he would constantly ask his family members the question: “Why?”

Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wichita Collegiate School

While Timothy attended Wichita Collegiate School for primary school, channeling his intellectual curiosity proved at times a challenge.  Tim preferred to teach himself subjects that interested him.  Often, he surprised his teachers and classmates with his inquisitive mind.  For instance, he created his own physics experiments outside the academic curriculum and composed his own piano music for a school assembly. Tim marched to the beat of his own drum, and was willing to go beyond conventional expectations to do the unusual and extraordinary. Tim also attended Wichita Collegiate School for high school.  He was well-liked and respected by his peers. In the words of one high school classmate, “Timothy was the only person I ever met who I never once heard say a bad thing about another person.” This pattern of humility, caring, and gentleness continued throughout his adult life.

Notre Dame—The College Life

Following graduation from Wichita Collegiate School, Tim attended the University of Notre Dame.  His undergraduate curriculum matched his interests and passion for learning. He earned degrees in The Program of Liberal Studies, an intense “Great Books” curriculum; and in Mandarin Chinese, in which he eventually became fluent in speaking, writing and reading. During his junior year at Notre Dame, Tim attended Beijing University, the premier school in China.  As a result of his performance there, Timothy was accepted to the exclusive IUP program at Qinghua University, China’s top technical school. Between semesters of his studies in China, Tim worked for a start-up oil company in a remote area of South America near the Straits of Magellan.  After working on several dry wells, Tim worked on the rig as the company discovered its first oil to save itself from bankruptcy. The well became the foundation of the now-public company GeoPark Ltd.

Graduate School and Career

After graduating from Notre Dame, Tim was the general manager for Sentry International’s Shanghai office, where he worked as country manager under Sentry CEO, Mike Pompeo, who later became a Congressman, followed by his appointment as Director of the CIA and later U.S. Secretary of State under President Donald Trump. Timothy traveled to more than 25 factories in seven Chinese provinces, an experience which further enhanced his language and cultural skills.  After working for Sentry, Tim was the Vice President of Lario Logistics, where he was instrumental in the development of the Bakken Oil Express crude-by-rail terminal in North Dakota. Timothy endeavored to continue developing his Chinese and business skills.  In 2014, Tim began graduate school at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).  He graduated with a Masters of Business Administration in 2016. While at HKUST, Timothy also worked as Vice President of Asia Markets for Lario Oil and Gas, spearheading its EB5 marketing efforts throughout China. During the weeks before his death, Tim formed his own agency to raise EB5 financing in China for the development of infrastructure projects throughout the United States. He was also a founding partner of Reunion Capital, an investment fund he launched with his HKUST MBA classmates.

Timothy—A Lifelong Explorer and Learner

A lifelong explorer, Tim was a pilot, an avid chess player, a by-ear pianist, and an expert sailor. His spontaneity and adventurous spirit leveraged his disciplined, intellectual side.  He read extensively over a wide area of subjects including religion, philosophy, economics, art, literature, astronomy, and physics. Despite his remarkable knowledge and extraordinary accomplishments, Tim was humble and unassuming, seeking first to learn from others. His greatest talent was being the most loving and loyal family member and friend to all who knew him.