UConn is mourning the loss of former sports information director Tim Tolokan

Tim Tolokan, 79, of South Kingstown, Rhode Island and formerly of Storrs, Connecticut, passed away on Sunday, November 3rd.

A native of Willimantic, Connecticut, Tim had a long and successful career at the University of Connecticut, where he led the Sports Information/Sports Communications Office.

He joined the UConn staff in 1980, became director of athletic media relations in 1983 and assistant director of athletics/communications in 1986. Tim was responsible for recruiting for all Husky teams and had day-to-day duties in men's basketball and football and field hockey during his time at UConn.

Tim led UConn into the modern era of sports communications and media relations as both the men's and women's basketball teams achieved national prominence in the late 1980s.

In the 1990s, he started the UConn Licensing/Merchandising Program and the Marketing Corporate Partners programs.

Tim became Associate Director of Athletics Licensing and Traditions in 2001 before retiring from his full-time position in 2009. After his retirement, he continued to work on a part-time basis as special assistant to the athletics director as curator of the UConn J. Robert Donnelly Husky Heritage Sports Museum until 2018.

This past summer, Tim was inducted into the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Hall of Fame – the highest honor for a member of the sports communications industry.

He was a member of the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four Media Committee from 1984 to 2001. Tim received the United States Basketball Writers Association Katha Quinn Award in 2000 for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to college basketball.

In 2000, Tim received the 2000 Outstanding Contribution Award from the UConn Club and was named the 2023 Dean of Sports Award winner by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. From 1999 to 2002 he was a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Content Advisory Committee.

Before coming to UConn, Tim worked for 12 years at the Norwich Bulletin, where he was sports editor from 1970 to 1980. For the Bulletin, he covered UConn teams as well as the 1976 Montreal Olympics and World Series games across the country.

Tim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Diane (Lemoine) of South Kingstown; sister Patricia of Windham, Connecticut; brother Toby (Mary) of Indianapolis; nieces, Lindsey Lemoine and Julia Lemoine; and nephews John Tolokan, Alek Tolokan and John Lemoine.

The family would like to thank the staff at Jerome Home in New Britain, Connecticut, and Brookdale South Bay in South Kingstown, as well as the physicians and staff at UConn John Dempsey Hospital for the care and support they provided to Tim.

The Potter Funeral Home of Willimantic is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health. Please make checks payable to “UConn Health” and write “In Memory of Tim Tolokan” in the memo line. Mail to: UConn Health, Neag Cancer Center, e.g. Attn: Patty Smith/AM041, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030-1834.