MyMac Publisher Tim Robertson Dies at Age 55
[I appreciate longtime MyMac contributor John “Nemo” Nemerovski volunteering to commemorate this sad event—his last byline here dates all the way back to 1997. I met Tim only a few times at Macworld Expo, but he was a familiar name in the Apple media ecosystem. –Adam]
It is with a heavy heart that I must share the news that Tim Robertson has died after a recent illness. Tim was a foundational online Mac and Apple content creator, getting his start with MyMac Magazine as a standalone DocMaker publication in 1995 when he was only 25. Soon after, he moved it to the Web as MyMac.com, which has been in continuous publication ever since, making it one of the longest-standing Web publications. Tim was also an early podcaster, launching the MyMac Podcast in 2004.
Tim recruited, inspired, and nurtured the writing of dozens of regular and guest contributors to MyMac.com, publishing thousands of articles over the course of three decades. His MyMac Podcasting Network has also hosted thousands of episodes of shows such as Tech Fan, GeeksPub, Geekiest Show Ever, and The Essential Apple Podcast.
He accomplished it all as a dedicated Apple aficionado, with very little advertising or sponsorship, while working a day job as a car salesman. MyMac contributors, like Tim, have always been unpaid volunteers who create content at a professional level.
Tim had a hands-off style of leadership that allowed “anything goes,” within reason. As longtime reviewer Mark Sealey said, “His support was generous, unambiguous, and inspiring, and his criticisms (few) were always constructive. The entire MyMac enterprise was shot through with positivity, accuracy, and every eye on what was known would be the most useful to the readership.”
Vicki Stokes added: “As the only female African American reviewer for MyMac, I immediately felt at home in the company of Tim and the other writers. He complimented and supported our Three Geeky Ladies podcast when we felt no one would listen to three middle-aged women talking about our tech experience. In his words, we were relevant and exactly what he wanted on the MyMac platform.”
Owen Rubin, a well-known game developer, said, “I got a cold call from Tim because of his love of video games, especially Major Havoc. The moment we started talking, it was as if we had been friends for years. I wrote and did podcasts for MyMac and loved interacting with him on the topics. My biggest disappointment is that he did not live close by. If that had been the case, he definitely would have been my favorite friend. His passing has left a big hole in my heart. I miss him dearly.”
Elisa Pacelli wrote that she “met Tim about 15 years ago when I won a prize from the MyMac.com podcast. He liked to call the winners live during the episode recording. I was asked to be a writer for the website. A few years later, I joined two other writers, Suzé Gilbert and Vicki Stokes, to create the Three Geeky Ladies podcast that lasted for eight years. I was a guest and then a co-host of the Geekiest Show Ever podcast, which ended its run earlier this year. Tim gave us free rein to talk about whatever we wanted and was 100% there for us with whatever support we needed.”
Another early recruit, Guy Serle, wrote: “I wrote a reply to an article at MyMac.com, which led to a lengthy back and forth. I wrote for the website for a number of years before the podcasting bug bit me. Eventually, I became a co-host of the MyMac show along with David Cohen and then for 15 years with Gary ‘GazMaz’ Malpas.”
The MyMac crew were regulars at Macworld Expo in San Francisco and the Macstock Conference in Illinois. At those events, we met our colleagues from other publications in person, including many of the staff of TidBITS at the Ink-Stained Wretches dinners that Adam and Tonya Engst organized.
Tim was a one-of-a-kind, fearless leader. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family in Michigan and encourage anyone who knew him to share their stories on his official obituary.
Farewell, Tim. You gave us so much. You will always be with us.
I, like so many others, won a contest at MyMac.
When Tim called me to tell me, we got to talking and after that I was writing reviews and articles for MyMac.com.
That went on for several years with both Tim and John nurturing me along.
I enjoyed every minute of that time of my life.
Tim encouraged many others to get involved and he was a driving force in the Mac space for all of the time I knew him.
RIP my friend…
Rich Lefko
I was saddened to read about Tim’s passing in the most recent Tidbits.
Your inclusion of so many kind (and accurate) observations on Tim’s style and influence was much appreciated though. When we worked together on the ‘Buying Used Macs’ book many years ago, it was clear to me that I’d found a kindred spirit. He was a patient but effective editor, and as a publisher, someone who was driven with a desire to create great content that Mac fans would engage with and enjoy.
Looking back at my emails, one stands out. Tim thanking his regular writers (and some distinctly less than regular, like me) for their contributions, remarking on the quality of writing at MyMac being as good as it had ever been. I can’t think of a single editor that I have ever worked for, even after some 30 years of sporadic freelancing, who took the time to write a message like that. Life moves on, but moments like that remain and they’re what motivate us to be the best versions of ourselves we can be.
Rest well, Tim.
Additional remembrances from two MyMac contributors.
Donny Yankellow:
Michael Breed:
Two long time MyMac contributors continue the fond tributes.
Beth Lock:
Russ Walkowich
Melissa Davis adds:
From David Acklam: