So that the world will know you David...
David completed his International Baccalaureate Degree in Sweden 1995, with honours. His dream was to go to America and, much to his satisfaction, he was offered a place at The Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1995. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Business Management three-and-a-half years later, in December of 1998. He received scholarships every year due to his excellent achievements. He treasured every day there, and was well liked by his friends, who called him Swede. One of his dearest past times was soccer, which he had played in Sweden ever since he was a little kid.
"That is what I have wanted since I was seven".
~ David, 1995
During summer vacations, he used to work at PWS Ltd. in London. However, he always made sure to come back home and spend a few weeks with his family and friends in Sweden. After graduation he was granted a temporary green card in America. He packed his bags and got on a Greyhound to New York. He went on his own, without a job waiting for him, and nowhere to stay. He has told us that he had never been more scared in his entire life. But he was pursuing his dream. For the first six months he stayed in a hostel, which would close between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. This was in January 1999, and it was freezing outside. David would spend office hours in the New York Public Library and in bookstores and cafes to keep warm. He applied for innumerable jobs, and while waiting for replies, he found himself with time on his hands to read books, some of which are listed below:
- The Thief and The Dogs (Mahfouz)
- The Master and Margarita (Bulgakov)
- The Stranger (Camus)
- The First Man (Camus)
- No Way Out (Onetti)
- The Age of Reason (Sartre)
- The Chase (Carpetier)
- The Fall (W. Golding)
- Slowness (Milan Kundera)
- Immortality (Milan Kundera)
- Identity (Milan Kundera)
David wrote in a letter to me on 3/12/99:
"All these books are very influential, and major works of the 20th century. With this new love for reading comes an equally strong passion for writing. I love to share my thoughts with others and put them down on paper as coherently as possible." All these books are now in my care, together with other books he read later. Milan Kundera is one author whose books David found profound depth and meaning to. Together with the books we brought home from David's flat in Manhattan were all his paintings. He was a gifted artist. His letters were like reading an intriguing book. He told me very recently that one day he was going to make it as an author and an architect. Had he lived for another 25 years I am certain he would have achieved that dream as well.
In April 1999 he got a job at a law firm as a clerk, which was very poorly paid. He had a place to stay, but only three dollars a day on which to make ends meet. Despite the daunting odds, he never gave up on his dream. At difficult times he found strength and drew inspiration from Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York". In September 1999 David became an employee at RGL Gallagher in their New York Office on the 52nd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. RGL was later acquired by Marsh & McLennan, and the entire RGL team moved up to the 100th floor of the North Tower. David was very proud to work for MMC in the World Trade Center. Furthermore, he was living his dream. Two weeks before the disaster, David and his boss flew to Sweden on business. His boss flew back later that week, but David stayed behind with us until September 9. We were all so happy to spend time with him. As we have not been able to see him as much as we would have liked to these past six years, the moments we did have together were invaluable. Petra had just started college in Stockholm, so David and Patric went up to visit her for a few days. I called them Petra's lifeguards, because they always looked after her.
Petra came down from Stockholm before David left for New York on September 9, a Sunday. We had an unforgettable dinner on Saturday, and when Patric left for London that same night, David said, "Good luck in London" and they embraced. This was the last time Patric saw David, his brother and best friend.
Early the next morning, Petra and I took David to the airport. We were joking around as we always
did, embraced and kissed David goodbye.
Britt Ehnar, David's Mom, 2001
"It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice."
~ David, 1997
On September 9th I hugged David goodbye at the airport like I have done so many times before, only not aware this was the last time I would ever see or talk to him again. It is like he has gone on a long journey. Sometimes I wonder where he is, and then I realize he is just alive within me. In my mind he is still as vivid as if he were still here.
This is how David described tragedy in a high school essay: “Tragedy is when things are resolved in the worst possible way. Usually there is death involved. The word tragedy is often used when things go from good to bad. For example if a boy who has finished school and has a bright future then suddenly dies.” Tragedy struck and this became his own fate. But had he known his life would be cut short, I still don’t think he would have done anything differently. He enjoyed studying and learning new things. School was an important part of his life, and he loved his college years and the friends he made.
Through the years David has been more than my big brother. He has been my comfort, my role model, my friend, my kindred spirit, and my inspiration and he will continue to be so. Since the day I was born, David has looked after me like a father. We have grown up together and thus shared the better part of our lives. We have always been very close. Having similar features and personalities is in a way painful, but I am very grateful, as I will always see David in myself. I am deeply saddened that we were not able to spend more grown-up time together.
Petra Ehnar, David's Sister, 2001
"Live every day as though it were your last."
~ David, 1999
In memory of my brother, David 18.3.76 - 11.9.01
I remember it like it was yesterday even though this was twenty years ago now. David and I were all set to go on our very first moose hunt. It is an annual Swedish tradition that lasts for a couple of weeks each fall. Our mother had dressed us so that we would not get cold as it was rainy and miserable outside. I handed one of our wooden rifles to my brother and off we went. Some 100 yards from the house, we lay down behind a couple of trees, about 20 feet apart, and waited anxiously while taking aim at anything that moved.
It was not long before we started getting bored. But just as we were about to pack up and head back home we heard something that caught our attention. Lo and behold, it was a moose! This was the moment we had been gearing up for and we were both paralysed. A great majestic moose came running through our back yard and my brother and I froze, unable to move as the enormous animal came trampling through the vegetation in our direction. Never had I been so scared in my whole life. We were right in its path and by now I was trembling with fear. When the moose had passed us, I looked up and saw the amazement and horror
in my brother's face.
We were unable to speak at that moment but both of us got up at the same time and ran as fast as we could up to the house where mom was waiting for us. We were out of breath, but eager to tell our story. And the story is taken from the same spot in the woods, where we left our toy rifles in a hurry. We spent the rest of that day indoors, planning in detail and preparing mentally for the next time we would come eye to eye with a moose.
After September 11, 2001, there will never be a next time for my brother and I to go on a moose hunt. But my memory of David will forever be as vivid and precious to me as the day when we went hunting for moose in our back yard.
"I will never forget but always honor you."
Patric Tengelin, David's Brother, 2001
"It's when I walk up to the window in our new offices on the 100th floor of One World Trade Center, that I realise how incredibly lucky I am.."
~ David, 1999
To my son David:
David, I pray for all of us.
Lord, we pray for the power to be gentle; the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding; and the the endurance to accept the consequences of holding to what we believe to be right.
May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred. We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence, a new world where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice, nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.
Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfil the destiny for which we and all men were created.
David, take it easy. I am sure we meet again.
All my Love, Dad
Peter Tengelin, David's Father, 2001
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