A manahawkin restaurateur's legacy and endless good deeds

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Timothy Kohlheim was only 36. Yet he owned two successful restaurants, knew just about everyone and kept finding ways to help all in need. "Tim was well-known,"

said Chris Laba, the best friend of the Shore Fire Grille owner. "He probably could’ve been the mayor, with all the people that liked him." Nicole Ebner, another close friend,

recalls the first time she witnessed Kohlheim's generosity. She was involved with the Stafford PTO, which puts on an annual Chef's Tour fundraiser. Local restaurants provide food

at 10 different homes, offering the chance to win prizes and auction items. FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BARNEGAT-MANAHAWKINFOR FREE WITH THE LATEST UPDATES FROM PATCH. A few years ago,

the Chef's Tour didn't happen because of lack or interest or organization, Ebner said. Kohlheim didn't want that to happen again, so he successfully spearheaded the event the

following year. "Ironically, Tim did not even have a child in the school district at that time," Ebner said. "Tim’s oldest daughter at the time was only 1 or 2 years old, and

their youngest child wasn’t even born yet. So it just goes to show he was so in tune with our community and wanting to help out." FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN

BARNEGAT-MANAHAWKINFOR FREE WITH THE LATEST UPDATES FROM PATCH. Ebner laid awake the night of Aug. 15, when Kohlheim died in an accident. READ MORE: 'SPECIAL PERSON:' MANAHAWKIN

RESTAURANT OWNER KILLED IN CRASH "I woke up and I said, ‘Somehow, we have to do something to honor Tim for the rest of my being here on earth,’" she said. Kohlheim always made time

to help. Through two initiatives — Tim's Tribe and #LiveLikeTim — community members are doing the same. ONE OF A KIND According to Ebner, Kohlheim could sense when someone needed help

from a mile away. During the federal government shutdown earlier this year, he offered a free dinner to all Coast Guard members of Barnegat Light and all employees not receiving paychecks.

Kohlheim made a tradition each Thanksgiving and Christmas. He cooked meals and brought them to Stafford police who worked during the holidays. During their quick breaks, officers could enjoy

some turkey, stuffing and cornbread, Ebner said. Ebner's son joined Shore Fire Grille's staff at age 16, first as a dishwasher and then working alongside Kohlheim. Her son learned

everything from Kohlheim. Ebner received a call Aug. 15 from a friend, who saw Kohlheim's van had crashed. Her friend feared that Ebner's son may have been driving it, as he did

for deliveries. But at that time of night — around 10 p.m. — Ebner knew Kohlheim was driving. She called the nanny of Kohlheim's children to alert her and offer help. Their nanny,

Shaylene, headed out to the Causeway in a panic. "I assured her everything was going to be OK," Ebner said. "The kids were asleep, and we’d find out the news soon enough. Then

the next thing I knew, she was calling me back to tell me that Tim had passed." HELPING HANDS Manahawkin has a way of uniting after tragedy, Laba said. He recalls when Parker Nork died

at age 9 after a battle with leukemia in 2017. A GoFundMe for the young athlete exploded with donations. Parker's Army, a nonprofit, now funds scholarships for high school athletes,

raises money for youth recreational and hockey programs and fights to cure childhood cancer. "The community we live in, every time something bad happens, they come together," Laba

said. "It’s almost amazing. When Parker Nork passed away a couple years ago, the community came together like that." Kohlheim is survived by his wife, Samantha, and two daughters,

Avalon and Addison. Laba thought an online fundraiser for the family might generate a couple thousand. He was wrong. The fundraiser far exceeded that. The good will could've ended

there, but it was only beginning. As Ebner laid restless hours after Kohlheim died, she came up with the perfect name to encapsulate how to carry on his good spirit: "Tim's

Tribe." Ebner contacted Parker's mother, Kim Nork, who works in graphic design. Nork collaborated with Kohlheim on several Parker's Army fundraiser. She designed the logo for

Tim's Tribe. Ebner contacted Kohlheim's wife, Samantha, the morning after the crash and said she would help with anything needed. Shore Fire Grille's Manahawkin location

closed for that day. But they needed some helping hands to keep it running Saturday, Aug. 17. Laba used to visit Kohlheim at Shore Fire Grille. He'd hang out for a couple hours and then

Kohlheim would tell him, "Grab this, grab that." Laba would then help with the restaurant. Kohlheim had a system at Manahawkin and Surf City restaurants. Laba and several others

volunteered that Saturday to replicate everything Kohlheim taught. And they kept the Manahawkin location functioning that day and for the rest of the summer. "We just all worked

together," Laba said. "The shifts were ridiculous. There were too many people. But they all came together just to make it flow to get through the summer. We wanted to keep his name

good so he wouldn’t get bad Yelp reviews." Laba went to the restaurant that Saturday morning, and the first thing he did was change the sign to the "Tim's Tribe" logo.

The emblematic sign became well-known in the community that day. THE TRIBE GROWS Ebner went to Jetty to get "Tim's Tribe" t-shirts printed. A candlelight vigil was scheduled

the night of Aug. 17. For the vigil, Shore Fire Grille staff members would be the only ones wearing the t-shirts. Two-thousand people came to the memorial service. Although the community

came out strong to support Kohlheim and his family, there was still work to do. There was also a focus on aiding everyone who Kohlheim may have helped. Kohlheim, for the past few years, ran

a back-to-school fundraiser for local kids in need. The community was left to think, what about the kids Kohlheim was going to take shopping for back-to-school clothes? Businesses and

community members contacted Stafford Township School Board member Joseph Mangino. He ran the operation, and for the first time, the Stafford Board of Education participated in the

fundraiser, Ebner says. The fundraising event took place Aug. 29 at The Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House in Manahawkin. Community members and over 50 local businesses raised $18,000.

Local restaurants Rays New York Pizza, Fusaro's and Smallcakes Manahawkin even fed the kids the day they shopped. The fundraiser helped several students in the Stafford and Southern

Regional districts get ready for the new school year. "Through the back to school shopping trip those in #TimsTribe made it possible for students at both Southern and Stafford to attend

school with the confidence, dignity and respect they deserve," Mangino said in a Facebook post. "We did it while honoring the memory of our friend Tim, who saw this need and set

out to make a difference." The Facebook group #LivelikeTim puts acts of kindness, large or small, in the spotlight. They have organized major acts of generosity, such as funding a

student's senior trip to Disney World. Click here to see the group. Several more events will honor Kohlheim's legacy. A "Tattoos for Tim" benefit for the family will take

place from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at Fusaro's (31 N Main St., Manahawkin). A $100 donation gets you a tattoo, Fusaro's Gift Card and Incredibowls gift card. Shore Fire

Grille will also compete Oct. 6 in LBI's annual Chowderfest Cook-Off Classic. The restaurant never won it but always wanted to, Laba said. They entered the Manhattan Chowder category.

"Tim's Tribe" is also in the process of becoming a nonprofit, Ebner says. It's just one step in the effort to keep Kohlheim's memory alive, and letting everyone know

that they can live like Tim. "He was so giving," Ebner said. "If he heard of anything that someone needed help with, he would just get out and do it. Or he would reach out to

the proper channels to ask what he could do." _Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your

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