Hamilton, NY — With a campus nestled into the hills and a winter full of snow, sledding is a regular activity at Colgate University. Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, March 7, a college sophomore walked back up a campus hill carrying his sled and collapsed. Volker Tuettenberg ’03, of Hassloch, Germany, was known to have a heart condition. Campus Safety and Emergency Medical Services responded to a call from the scene, immediately performed CPR on the young man, and transported him to Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton. Tragically, Volker Tuettenberg died early Wednesday morning and the Medical Examiner Office in Syracuse, New York is determining the exact nature of the cause of death. The campus is stunned by the devastating loss.
This tragedy hits especially hard. On Tuesday, March 6, the university received word that Franklin Day ’01, another remarkable student, had passed away at Duke University Medical Center. A native of Falls Church, Virginia, Day was diagnosed in 1997 with leukemia. Following an aggressive course of treatment, he returned to Colgate and his studies. A political science major with a minor in Spanish, Day was an active member of University Church and Sigma Chi fraternity. When he recently suffered a relapse and his condition worsened, Day was admitted to Duke University Medical Center and underwent a stem-cell transplant nearly three weeks ago. Because of his strong faith and many supporters, daily campus prayer sessions were held for Day. All were hopeful for a good outcome but an overwhelming infection set in and Day passed away peacefully and with dignity on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.
Like Day, Volker was admired and popular. A native of Germany, Tuettenberg was a stellar student even though English was not his first language. A 4.0 student who had declared chemistry as his major, Tuettenberg was selected to be a Charles A. Dana Scholar at the end of January. This award recognizes ‘superior academic achievement as well as demonstrated leadership in the college community.’
Tuettenberg lived in the Harlem Renaissance Center (HRC), a co-ed, on-campus learning center and home. Established in 1982, HRC is an excellent community for all students interested in the scholarly examination of African culture and heritage, and study abroad experiences in Africa and the Caribbean.
Studying as a high-school exchange student in the United States is what led Tuettenberg to look to Colgate University for his undergraduate work. He attended the John Baptist Memorial High School in Bangor, Maine from 1996 to 1997. He returned to Germany and after completing his schooling there, Tuettenberg then applied to and was accepted at Colgate. His return to the United States also allowed Tuettenberg to be reunited with the young woman he had met in high school. She is also a member of the Class of 2003, and a Charles A. Dana scholar at Colgate University.
‘Colgate University is a community where every person makes a contribution and enriches the lives and learning of us all,’ said President Charles Karelis. ‘Friends, professors, and staff have all expressed how much they gained and learned from being a part of a world that included Franklin Day and Volker Tuettenberg. Our Colgate family and community grieves this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families as we all try to seek some sort of solace in the light of this very sad time.’
The Chaplain’s Office has organized a Memorial Service for Volker Tuettenberg on Friday, March 9, at 1 p.m. in the Colgate Memorial Chapel and his family will be in attendance. A reception in the Chapel garden level will follow.
A memorial service will be held for Franklin Day in the Colgate Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, March 27, at 11:30 a.m., with a reception following the service. His family will be in attendance. University Chaplain Nancy De Vries will be officiating. Memorials may be made in Franklin’s name to:Duke University Medical Center or George Mason High School Scholarship Fund.
Founded in 1819, Colgate University is a nationally ranked, highly selective, residential, liberal arts college enrolling nearly 2,750 undergraduates. Situated on a rolling 515-acre campus in central New York State, Colgate University attracts students with diverse backgrounds, interests and talents.
###