Teodros Kiros - Ato Tiruneh: a cultured Ethiopian

Ato Tiruneh: the cultured Ethiopian

31 December, 2009 | Teodros Kiros (PhD)

I remember him when I was barely ten, locking himself up in holy room filled
with incense, carpets, holy books, praying for hours, when I would go to their
house with my mother, who was Mrs. Felegu, his wife’s best friend. I still
remember that holy room, which looked and felt like a small church. After a
long meditation, he would step out the room and hug me affectionately.

I still remember that contagious smile.

Years later, after I became a middle aged man, he would still hug me
affectionately, when I went to visit him in Sudbury, Ma, where his son and his
family reside.

Quiet, deliberate and generous to a fault, he prevailed over delicate religious
matters, attended to numerous business decisions, visited the sick at their
beds, gave money to all those who needed it.

Famously wealthy and typically humble, all of his actions were propelled by
spirituality and balanced by a business sense.

He did all this matters with felicity and ease, characteristic only of kings, and
the well bred Ethiopians of the long past.

I remember him at Alemseged Tiruneh’s, (his son) elaborate dinners. He
always sat at the head of the long table. Dinner will start only after a long
prayer, which he conducted with the melody of a singer and the seriousness of
a philosopher.

Mrs. Felegu, his adoring wife of long years always sat next to him, and will
gently provoke him to make detailed commentaries on the bible, on which he
was one of the most noted authorities I have ever known.

The dinner would last long hours, graced by his quiet tone and deep presence,
occasionally punctuated by a loving smile, distributed to all those who needed
it. He said very little, but when he said anything at all, words were chosen
carefully, and he made sure that hearts are not hurt, that persons are not
slighted, and the shy and the vulnerable are not ignored.

Ato Tiruneh lived his life as a seriousness religious figure, a delicate husband, a
responsible father, and a patriotic Ethiopian, who loved his country from the
veins of his body.

This wealthy Ethiopian was a model to me. He did not squander his money,
nor did he hoard it. He used it in accordance to the laws of God. He shared it
with the world, raised brilliant children, and counseled the sick, the poor and
the vulnerable with utmost respect and loving-kindness.

The world lost a wonderful Ethiopian at a ripe old age, who was recalled by
the Transcendent on Christmas Eve, 2009, in Addis, Ethiopia. He collapsed
while he was praying, a way of dying, reserved only for those who served
God lovingly.

May the almighty welcome him to his peaceful place, where there is no pain or
suffering.