Charles "Tim" Pendergast

Charles “Tim” Pendergast, Tim Pendergast, 81, of Indianapolis, graduated Pura Vida from this life on June 11, 2023, surrounded by the family he loved, who loved him back. Born March 2, 1942 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to the late Charles Martin and Mary Eleanor (Holmes) Pendergast. Graduated Central Catholic High School, Fort Wayne; attended Indiana University, joined a band and hit the road, Jack. On trumpet, Tim “The Lizard” Pendergast. Through music, he met and married Jeanne Marie Schafer (piano). He quit a working band that played “corny” music. He regretted it. The cats he quit to join did not work. He did not like the popular music of his generation. Late in life, he reconsidered, then reconfirmed, “Rock ’n ’roll isn’t any good.” He could be like that. He liked difficult music—Bebop. On piano, he played Bach, Ray Charles, and Philip Glass. He burst out in song when something you said reminded him of a lyric. From the last row of the San Francisco Symphony auditorium, he was the first to applaud the conclusion of the piece (Shostakovich). He liked difficult books. He read “Finnigan’s Wake.” He read Yeats and Dostoevsky (in Russian). He espoused beauty and ephemerality over material and security. He challenged us to declare the value of a particular cloud overhead. “$17.00? $17.50?” Joint checking with him could be a challenge. He would not drink from plastic cups. He owned a mobile home. He spoke Russian, German, and increasingly, Spanish. Recitations in Latin out of nowhere. His Irish heritage was mathematically non-dominant, but it ate the rest. He was raised in the Catholic church and isn’t having it. We’ll put him down as agnostic. He believed in not littering. He forgave those who trespassed against him. He helped his neighbors. As a family man, he was idiosyncratic. He grew into it. He took good care of his mom in her late years. He adored his daughters. Was proud of his son. He did not play favorites. “Pops” numbered his grandkids, one to six, but allowed them to change order. He loved his wife of 58 years. He would like her to not worry so much. He coached softball. He ran the mini marathon. He once served as a pit crew member for an Indy Car race. For bread, he bagged your groceries. He entertained you with music. He programmed your computers. He made your copies; he routed your packages. He built a deck on to his mobile home worth more than the home. He picked up discarded easy chairs, put them in his shed, and smoked there. He smoked all kinds of things. He loved Miles Davis, Irish Whisky, and Costa Rica. Meat and Potatoes—almost exclusively. So much butter. He did not worry. He looked forward. Traveled. Had plans. Never thought he was too old for anything. He took up guitar and Tai Chi in his eighth decade. Weeks before his passing, he built a Zen Garden. Among his final words were three F-bombs. He wanted so much to stay. Tim is survived by his loving wife, Jeanne Pendergast; favorite oldest daughter, Jenny Pendergast Pratt (Jeff); son, Sean Pendergast (Lucy Schaich); favorite youngest daughter, Megan Pendergast Williams (Chad); grandchildren, Kyle Pratt (Mary), Mindy Pratt (fiancé, Austin Sventeckis), Henry Pendergast, Ingrid Pendergast, Keegan Williams and Mckenna Williams; sister, Julia Kramer (Vern); and brother, John Patrick Pendergast. Arrangements are private and entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tim's honor may be made to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestera online at https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/ or by mail, 32 East Washington Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Or just raise a glass to Tim, Sláinte!

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Charles "Tim" Pendergast

March 2, 1942 - June 11, 2023