David Paul Struewing Memorial Fund

The David Paul Struewing Memorial Fund was established in 2017 to honor the memory of David Struewing. David was excited to be working as an EMT and had many ideas about how to optimize the emergency medical response system. The Fund will initially support emergency medical response training through scholarships and courses. Other causes of importance to David may be supported in the future.

About David Struewing

David died suddenly on August 16, 2017 at age 24. David was loved by virtually everyone who ever met him. In a very disarming and almost charming way he could win you over with his smile and warm personality. He was compassionate about social issues and did not shy away from debate on a wide range of important topics. He was born and raised in Takoma Park, MD and excelled in the Waldorf educational environment through 8th grade. He graduated from the Communication Arts Program of Montgomery Blair High School and was a computer science major at Temple University where his programming final exams were judged to be “works of art”. David was a complex, multi-talented person who mastered almost anything he set out to do, including artistic pursuits, piano, videography, and circus arts like trapeze. He began early and matured greatly in acting with Lumina Studio Theater where he had many leading roles. He was a tinkerer who loved new challenges, everything from keeping a cell phone or laptop going for years to auto repair. His Halloween and Christmas light displays were legendary in the neighborhood. David had a great sense of humor and his laugh was like a hug. His videography talent shone through from an early age. David loved animals, and they loved him in return. David was a true friend to so many people and you were lucky if you were one of them.

David worked throughout high school, college, and beyond, including at numerous restaurants where owners would routinely come out to meet his family to say how wonderful a worker and person he was. Most recently he worked as an EMT in Oregon, which seemed to really suit him. Just before his death he was excited to relay his plans to continue working as an EMT, complete his computer science degree, and then apply this experience and knowledge to improving the emergency services system. In Oregon, one of his favorite activities was swimming in the crystal-clear mountain rivers. It was while swimming at a beautiful, remote spot that he developed a seizure and was unable to be resuscitated, despite heroic efforts from his friend Rachel and a helicopter evacuation. David is survived by his sister, Eleanor Struewing; his parents, Paula Wolyniec and Jeff Struewing; his nana, Amelia (Dolly) Wolyniec of Takoma Park, MD; his grandma and grandpa, Sylvia Jean Struewing and Herman (Ham) Struewing of Batesville, IN; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, and of course, many friends who loved him dearly.

David was rereading Rudolph Steiner’s “The Education of the Child” in the months before his death and for many years shared Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet” with many friends.

“…leave to your opinions their own quiet undisturbed development, which, like all progress, must come from deep within and cannot be pressed or hurried by anything…” — Rainer Maria Rilke

Events

A memorial service was held Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 3PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, with a reception at the church immediately following.  For more information or questions, you can contact his dad Jeff.

Scholarship Application

Please clicke HERE for the application!

Scholarship Recipients

2019, Kristina Delaney, Doctoral Candidate in Education, Hosftra University

2020, Samantha Lipson, Hybrid EMT, West Chester Emergency Training Academy

2021, Neil Chopra, Advanced EMT, Rice University

 

Fund Administrators

  • Jeffery Struewing
  • Paula Wolyniec
  • Eleanor Struewing

Donations

CharitySmith accepts donations in two ways:

By Mail:
David Paul Struewing Memorial Fund
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane
Truckee, CA 96161

Online:
Use credit card by clicking the link below.

The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of Charitysmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer.

For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.

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