Dozens remember Timothy Stark as beloved Medford friend at celebration of life

A community came together Saturday to celebrate the life of Timothy Stark, a homeless man who was stabbed to death in a busy intersection in Medford last month.

Dozens of friends and family members filled Calvary Baptist Church in Medford to honor Stark's memory. The service was filled with an outpouring of love and stories from community members who often extended Stark a helping hand — and received one in return.

"Until we meet again, may you always know how deep you were loved, with all our hearts," his aunt, Lisa Stark Kiernan, said through tears. "Thank you to everyone who took the time to have conversations with him, who gave him physical support, and fed him. God bless you." She was one of multiple family members in attendance.

Stark, 32, was fatally stabbed July 20 following an altercation at Express Drive South and Route 112 — the intersection at which he was known by the Medford community to sit each day.

"Tim Stark was a real member of the Medford community," Pastor Chris Pandolfi said during the service. "I've been a pastor here for almost 30 years, and I think more people knew Tim than me. If he ran for office, he might have gotten in."

Pandolfi described Stark as a "very intelligent young man." Stark often volunteered at the church and did jobs for Michael Hammer, a neighbor who lived across the street from Stark's family for years.

"I miss him a lot already," Hammer said to the attendees. "Where he crossed under the 'one way' sign, I hope it symbolizes a one-way ride to heaven." Hammer was referencing the signs near the intersection where Stark died.

Tanika Quashie, a worker from a DMV where Stark was often seen, spoke on the impact he had on her life.

"He wasn't just a homeless man, he was my friend," Quashie said. "I miss him walking past the window, waving. I miss seeing him at 7:15 a.m. I miss seeing Tim at 5:15 p.m."

Joseph Norton, 20, of Manorville, was arraigned Friday on homicide charges after Suffolk police said he chased Stark on foot across three corners of the intersection and stabbed him repeatedly in the back.

At the arraignment, Hammer told Newsday that before his death, Stark struggled with mental health issues and had moved into a group home as an adolescent before he ended up on the streets nearby as an adult. Hammer said Stark tried living in adult group homes, but preferred life on his corner and was there by choice.

Stark's troubles include an arrest last September for threatening a security guard at a shopping center located at the same intersection where he was killed last week.

Court records show Stark brandished a small sword and told the guard he would kill him if he got closer to him. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor menacing with a weapon in January and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge.

Pandolfi and others encouraged the community to turn his death into positive change toward helping the homeless in Medford and beyond. The church, along with Quashie and Nekeya Chambers, another DMV employee, are starting a community group in his honor. The group will talk with local homeless people to identify what they need and the best ways the group can help.

"After we lost him, and after thinking about the memorial service, the next thought right away was, how can we help the other homeless people?" Pandolfi said. "My thought was that we can get them help much faster."

Newsday's Grant Parpan contributed to this story.