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Thursday the 11th of September, 2008

Remembering Kenneth Tietjen

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About the Kenneth F. Tietjen Memorial Foundation

imageThe Foundation was created in November 2001 as a non-profit organization to honor the memory of Port Authority Police Officer Kenny Tietjen, who sacrificed his life at the World Trade Center on Septemebr 11th.The main goal of the Foundation is to provide bicycles and/or other aid to underpriveledged children throughout New Jersey.

The idea for the Foundation came about because each year during the Christmas season, the Tietjen’s would “adopt” a needy family and provide all the food, clothes, and toys to help make the family’s Christmas a happy one. It was always Kenny’s job to provide the bikes for the children - it was something he looked forward to doing.

With the holidays approaching less than three months after Kenny was killed, his family and friends wanted to find a positive way to keep his memory alive and lessen the huge hole that they would feel by spending Christmas without Kenny.

Through generous donations from friends, family, fellow Port Authority police officers, and wonderful strangers, the Foundation was able to purchase and deliver 11 bicycles to needy children that very first year.  With continued support, the Foundation donated 37 bicycles, 3 computers, and many other toys to families throughout New Jersey during 2002.  With your continued support, Kenny’s Foundation is looking foward to expanding its “Acts of Hope” in the years to come.

For additional information or to make a contribution, please contact .

Thank you for helping us to keep Kenny’s wonderful spirit alive!

He Claimed the Respirator

As a boy, the two things that scared Ken Tietjen most were fire trucks and police cars. So he took some ribbing from his family when, as an adult, he chose a job that required him to ride in both.

Mr. Tietjen, a Port Authority police officer, was at the 33rd Street PATH station when he heard about the terrorist attack, said Laurie Quinn, his sister. Mr. Tietjen commandeered a taxi, banished the driver to the back seat, and drove to ground zero. He rushed into the north tower and helped people down, but when he emerged to get a new respirator, only one remained, his partner recalled. Smiling, Mr. Tietjen said, “Seniority rules,” took the respirator and ran into the south tower. Moments later, the building fell.

Typical, said Ms. Quinn, noting his commendation for bravery this year, received for tackling a man who had stabbed the sergeant he worked with. As a firefighter several years back, he returned to a burning building to rescue an unconscious colleague.

One of those Mr. Tietjen rescued on Sept. 11 attended his memorial Mass. But he did not stay because he became overwhelmed.

Ms. Quinn said: “My brother had a choice whether to go back and he chose to go back in. I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.”

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 1, 2001.

Kenneth Tietjen, 31, rushed to the scene

imageKenneth Tietjen, a police officer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, always wanted to be a firefighter.

In junior high school, as a member of the Middletown Fire Explorers, he rode his mo-ped to local fires. When he turned 18, his dream became a reality when he became a volunteer for the Belford Engine Company. His mother remembers how proud he was after fighting his first fire.

“He came home and said, ‘We had a great fire today. It was a propane tank,’ “ said Janice Tietjen of Belford. “He was right at the front of the hose and I said, ‘Why were you there?’ He said, ‘That’s where the excitement is.’ “

Mr. Tietjen, 31, of Matawan, died while rescuing people trapped in the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 attack. He led workers, some of them badly burned, from Tower One before grabbing the last air pack in sight and entering Tower Two.

“He waved to his partner and went in,” his mother said.

Mr. Tietjen, who was engaged to be married later this month, died when Tower Two collapsed.

Mr. Tietjen, who had been a Port Authority police officer for nine years, was working his job on the PATH trains when he heard of the attack. He immediately rushed into Manhattan to help, first commandeering a cab, then hopping an emergency vehicle.

“Wherever he could be, that’s where he was,” his mother said.

At the time of his death, Tietjen was training to be a member of the Port Authority Emergency Services Unit. All he needed was to complete a scuba diving course to fulfill his dream, his mother said.

Mr. Tietjen received several awards for his work with the Port Authority, including a special commendation in 1996 for subduing a man who rammed a patrol car in the Holland Tunnel and then stabbed a police officer.

Off the job, Tietjen, who moved to Matawan two years ago, liked action, too.

He was an avid hockey player and enjoyed riding dirtbikes with his fiancée’s 13-year-old son. He was a reliable handyman, always ready to help others with a home improvement project, his mother said.

“He loved Home Depot,” she said. “He loved everything—life, sports, people, his job. Every day was another project for him. He was a lovable person with many, many friends. And I know it sounds corny, but he was a really good kid . . . He was born on the Fourth of July. He was a hero.”

Tietjen was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Keyport and a member of Fraternal Order of Police No. 110 and the New Jersey State PBA Lodge 116.

In addition to his mother, Mr. Tietjen is survived by his father, Kenneth Tietjen; his fiancée, Karen Dalla Valle of Matawan; and two sisters, Cindy Tietjen of Belford and Laurie Quinn of Hazlet.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph’s Church. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kenneth F. Tietjen Foundation, which provides bicycles to poor children at Christmas. The address is 27 Gregory St., Hazlet, N.J., 07730.

Profile by Carrie Stetler published in THE STAR-LEDGER.

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Kenneth Tietjen
A tradition of giving

imageSince he was a boy, Kenneth Tietjen had given to the less fortunate. His charity knew no season.

At Christmastime, he’d buy bicycles for needy boys and girls in Monmouth County, N.J. In summers, he’d help out at the Special Olympics on the Jersey Shore. In between, he brought food to homeless shelters in Jersey City.

So it was only fitting that the Port Authority police officer’s family members would continue giving in his name. They bought wooden ramps so wheelchair users can easily traverse the sand to get near the water’s edge on beaches at Sandy Hook. This past Christmas, they purchased 200 bikes for children.

Tietjen was 31 when he died. He was last seen heading up a stairwell in the south tower after the second plane struck. He already had helped direct people to safety from the lobby of the flaming north tower.

“We decided very early on that it was our responsibility to get up every day and make Kenny proud of us,” said his sister, Laurie Tietjen.

Kenneth Tietjen was not married and left no children. He had insurance, and the Twin Towers Fund for uniformed responders who died compensated his family. People from all over the world sent donations to the family.

A woman sent a check for $2, and the gesture made Laurie Tietjen cry. “People were so good to us,” she said. “None of us was financially dependent on him, and after we helped his girlfriend and her son, we wanted to use the money to help people.”

His remains were found two days before Christmas of 2001, giving more meaning to the yuletide tradition. The Tietjens bought 11 bicycles for children that year.

The slain cop’s love of the beach inspired his mother, Janice. She saw wheelchair-accessible boardwalks at Wildwood and came up with the idea to donate similar devices to Sandy Hook. Last June, two handicapped-accessible ramps were dedicated, thanks to the family’s $5,000 gift to the National Park Service.

In addition to relatives’ own donations, they’ve raised $50,000 for good works in Kenneth Tietjen’s name. “It’s something we love to do,” Laurie Tietjen said.

From the Port Authority Memorial Page:

A day will not go by that I won’t think of you. I wish I could have done more that horrible day. I will miss you deeply! (partners forever)

TJ
Friend

Hello, I just wanted to say thank you kindly for all that you have done. I’m only 14 years old and I never really thought about how important the U.S.A. really is. I love to know that their are people like you out there watching over us. I send my condolences. Thank you for watching over all of the people in the September 11 tragedy.

Shantay Seamons
Friend

I just wanted the family of Officer Kenneth Tietjen to know that, yesterday, I rode my motorcycle in the Patriot Parade held here in Arizona memorializing all those who perished in the 9-11 attacks.  One motorcycle for each person we lost.  I rode in the police category and I proudly wore a wristband with his name and PAPD/NJPD written on it. 

I was curious today to find out who this officer was.  So for the heck of it I did a search with his name on the internet and was directed to this website.  Wow, when you see a photo that goes with the name, it really hits home.  I’m hoping this website is still active and that I will hear back from someone.  I have digital photos I’d like to send if anyone is interested. 

Thank you and God Bless.

Paula Gallagher

Your amazing smile will always be in my heart.  We miss you every day.

Unknown

Dear Kenny,

It seems like yesterday this terrible tragedy happened. I take comfort in knowing you are with God and are helping him do many miracles. I know you watch over your parents and sisters too. You were so loved in life and still in death you are loved and missed.

You will never be forgotten!

Love.
Aunt Sherry

Unlike anyone I’ve ever met, you were there for everyone. To me you will always be my partner and best friend. No one can come close. Till we meet again.

TJ
Partner/Friend

From an Angel on High
a tender message of love was softly whispered into the ear

Weep not for me
now that I have passed.
Remember the laughter, the affection, the joy
not just the recent tears.
Cherish the memories, our hopes and dreams.
Hold fast to the love that we shared.
Be happy with the time we spent together
and being anew.
For I am not really gone,
I am closer than ever before.
As the morning sun rises
and throughout the busy day...I am with you.
Until the setting sun disappears on the horizon
and we watch the day turn into night...I am here.
You may feel a faint breeze stir round your head, while you slumber
as I gently kiss your forehead, “Good night.”
The stars that shine so brightly in my heavenly sky
help me watch over you and keep you from harm.
I am the wind in the trees
and the song of a bird.
I am moonbeams in a midnight sky
and a glorious rainbow after the storm.
I am morning dew
and freshly-fallen snow.
I am a butterfly flying overhead
and a puppy happily at play.
I am a smile on a stranger’s face
a gentle touch
a warm embrace.
Listen to the wind for my message of love.
Watch the sun rise and set in the sky with me.
Feel my essence encircle you with warm memories.
Open your heart to know...I am not gone.
Reach deep into your soul...You will find me.
I am here.
Have no fear.
I am with you,
Always.

Roseanne Cittadino
High School Friend

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Posted by rtkenmore at 02:18 AM on the 11th of September, 2008.
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