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To his many longtime friends and fans of the Naro Video Store, we are sad to inform you that Tim Cooper has passed away after a protracted illness.Tim was a dedicated cineaste, film critic, and writer – and along with his wife Linda McGreevy, Ph.D., they accumulated a vast collection of video titles that rivaled any store on the East Coast. They generously donated their entire collection to the ODU Library archive after the store closed in 2019.
Many in the Ghent community cherish personal memories of frequenting Naro Video over the years and receiving such an exhaustive film education from Tim and his knowledgeable staff. We will all deeply miss Tim’s impish humor, keen intellect, and authenticity.
Truly sorry to learn this. Tim made Ghent a better place.
I am so sorry to hear of Tim’s passing. What an extraordinary reservoir of film knowledge he was. It was always a pleasure to go every week and get a movie, or two, or three. I don’t think there was a movie he did not know about. That was my impression.
I also knew Linda, who was at one time my art professor. I loved her classes.
Tim and Linda will surely be together eventually, as I can’t picture one without the other. My heartfelt condolences to Linda and the family.
Back in the early 1980s, a motley crew of us took off for the Telluride Film Festival, eager to see everyone from Werner Herzog to Leonard Maltin to Kevin Brownlow. Tim, Linda, Tench, Rob, Ned (Vankevich), and I also saw a wild badger. Tim quipped that he preferred to see his monsters on film, not in real life. His ready wit, droll and incisive, leavened every encounter. I owe my taste for eating red beans and rice while watching Les Blank documentaries and stumbling into so many other quirky films to Tim and Linda when we ran the Tidewater Film Society and then a series of movie lectures at ODU on “The Prophetic Art of Films: Visions of Crisis/Visions of Hope.” Tim introduced the anarchic film by Jean Vigo, Zero for Conduct, paired with Herzog’s Even Dwarfs Started Small, with his unbridled humor and insight But mostly, as an amateur professor of film during the early stages of Regent University, I was grateful to Tim for my continued film education and for his generous and prescient review of our student film, Bird in a Cage, which would go on to win our first National Student Academy Award. When Tim confessed to having a tear or two from watching it, I became indebted to him for life. A true classic liberal, he gave our fledgling film program its local credibility, in spite of a stigma of being associated with Pat Robertson. May the Father of all Mercies shine upon our dear and beloved friend.
The naro video store was a wonderful place to go. I probably still have a few punches left on my card.
Tim Cooper was a regional treasure. My husband and I made twice weekly pilgrimages to Tim’s Naro video store where we would find interesting films but also frequently be fortunate enough to be given mini lessons about various directors, writers and stars . Tim was so knowledgeable, lively and eager to teach. His collection of foreign language films was impressive. He was a remarkable man. He will be greatly missed.
Tim was always helpful and enthusiastic about film, and Naro Video was a unique gem. The combination was something that probably won’t come along again. He will be missed, but the memories he helped make for me and my boys will live on.
Tim was an old pal and Linda is a beloved professor. So glad they found each other. The were so dear to my Darby over the years. Fly high, Coop!
I am deeply saddened by Tim’s loss to our film-interested community! With my family, we spent a lot of time at the NaroVideo and always left richly rewarded with hours of film-watching ahead of us. Tim (and his staff!) would help me identify titles of movies that I remembered only in small scene descriptions but they knew what to pull from their shelves! And then I could use these, VHS’s initially and later DVD’s professionally for my teaching clips. Tim and Linda’s donation to the ODU library keeps Tim’s life passion alive for us and future generations! Thank you Tim and Linda and amazing NaroVideo staff!
I’m deeply saddened to hear of Tim’s passing. I haven’t seen him in a while but much enjoyed his presence, wisdom and humor in the past.
Tim’s legacy will live on with the culture he brought to Ghent and collection now housed at ODU for future generations of cinephiles. I will never forget what it felt like to enter the Naro Expanded Video, a total loss for residents of Ghent. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
It’s difficult to hear of someone’s passing that was such a fixture of our Ghent culture. Those of us that frequented the NARO, remember him and cherish the memories of ordinary days of picking out a movie and hearing his recommendations. He will be missed! Sending sincere condolences to his family.
I used to love talking to Tim. It made me feel like a cool film fan! We had differences of opinion, of course. I remember strutting in proudly after a show next door that I really liked. I started to tell him about it, when he said: “Did it ever get any better? I walked out after 10 minutes!”
Tim was such a Norfolk hero. The Naro Video was so unique, a shrine to cinema…but most importantly Tim.was so warm and knowledgeable and inspiring so many with the love of film. A bright light is gone and I consider myself so fortunate to have known him.
I am sadden to learn the passing of Tim Cooper. I really enjoyed trips to the Naro Video and the witty banter of the ‘Tim Man.’ His video knowledge and worldly experience were a pleasure to engage. In fact, the entire staff of Naro Video were engaging and provided a wonderful cultural anchor to our Ghent community. Tim and the video store are missed. Condolences to Ms. Linda McGreevy and to all who have fond memories of Naro Video.
So sorry to hear about Tim’s passing. He was always so much fun to “joust” with! Especially about non-rewound VHS tapes – he sure gave us a hard time about those…
I’m happy that we can still get some of the old “NARO Video” experience at ODU.
Tim was a fixture in Ghent, a very good friend and a wonderful human being. He will be sorely missed and I hope he saves me an aisle seat on the other side.
Loved his wit and conversation. Tim made the NARO more than a video store but a neighborhood treasure.
I worked at Naro Expanded Video for several years, after having been a fan of the store and the cultural hub it represented for years before joining the staff. I treasure the memories of working there alongside fellow film enthusiasts. My job “interview” consisted of lively back-and-forths with Tim about favorite directors, underrated films, genre categories and related topics that would bore most people to death. Tim’s encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm for engaging with customers made working there a genuine pleasure. He was uniquely lovable curmudgeon, and our community is richer for his many contributions. Sincere condolences to Linda McGreevy and all who loved Tim.
My late husband Dr “ Beau” Hodge and I frequented the store almost weekly!
We loved his film recommendations and genuine sense of welcoming.
He insisted on calling Beau “Dr”
and always remembered us
A walk to the video store was a favorite of our Jackson and his friend Deng.. Lovely memories .
Thank you !