Timothy Healy's job title may have been mail carrier, but the Manheim man went well beyond the role he held for 37 years. "He liked to meet new people, and he liked to make a difference in people's lives," said his daughter Meghan Healy. "He was very welcoming to everyone, and he liked to genuinely get to know everyone. If he could help people, he would in any way he could."

Timothy, 60, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 13. As a tribute to the man who made his mark on the Lancaster and Manheim communities, more than 40 postal workers at the post office annex in Lancaster participated in a caravan soon after his death, beeping their horns in tribute and displaying an Irish flag to pay homage to Timothy's heritage.

Born in Brooklyn, Timothy started his career with the postal service there before relocating to a farm in Manheim. He spent the next few decades raising four kids in Manheim with his wife of 39 years, Debbie, and sharing his sunny outlook on life with everyone he met.

Being a mail carrier was a perfect job for Timothy, Meghan said, because he enjoyed staying active and getting to know the people on his route. Prior to joining the postal service, he was a professional bull rider who competed throughout the East Coast. Timothy also ran marathons and participated in Iron Man events. But it was the opportunity to interact with people on his mail route that he enjoyed the most, Meghan noted.

"People knew how big-hearted and kindhearted he was," she stated, adding that he'd often bring coffee or a sandwich to people in need whom he encountered while delivering mail. "If he had an elderly person on his route, he would take the time to walk the mail to their door and drop it off, just to check in on them."

As news of Timothy's passing spread, tributes from friends and co-workers poured in to his family. One of his sons and his nephew both work for the postal service as well, and soon the idea for the caravan developed. Meghan noted that the event was very emotional for her family, especially her mother. "It was heartwarming and unexpected," she said. "It made my mom smile."

Co-worker Diane Smith recalled Timothy's infectious joy around the holiday season. "He would sing along to the Christmas music playing on the radio," she wrote in an online tribute. "He would comically change the words of the songs as he sang to entertain those around him. ... He will be greatly missed by those who knew him."

Robert Salvatore Corba, another co-worker, emphasized Timothy's ability to bring joy to the job. "He had such an uplifting and genuine personality," he wrote online, "(and a) great sense of humor. ... Not a day went by that he didn't bring a smile to my face."

To watch the postal workers' tribute to Timothy, visit https://bit.ly/TimothyHealy.