Gander story inspires more than musical
Man whose 9/11 story is part of Come From Away touts a book spurred by hospitality
Relying completely on the kindness and generosity of a town of strangers caused a profound transformation in Kevin Tuerff, and now he’s trying to transform the world around him.
“I can’t pay (the people of Gander) back, so I can pay it forward,” said Tuerff on Friday at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, touting his new book and new outlook, both of which flowed from the time he spent in the Newfoundland community in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11.
Tuerff, the inspiration for the character Kevin T in the hit musical Come from Away, was in Toronto for a reading, a talk and to sign his book Channel of Peace, a memoir about his experience when his plane from Paris to New York was diverted to Gander after the 2001terrorist attacks.
Gander’s 9,000 residents took in about 6,500 passengers whose flights ended up in their town. Tuerff, a Texas native then in charge of an environmental marketing firm, was deeply touched — “there are good people everywhere, but there’s just a special place in my heart for the people of Newfoundland.”
The process of writing the memoir was “cathartic,” Tuerff said.
“For me, on that terrible day I witnessed some of the best of humanity. That’s why I’ve been relentless in telling the Gander story every year before there was a musical.” (The Tony-winning musical is returning to Toronto next February.)
Tuerff’s experience eventually led him to his new calling, which is advocating for immigrants and refugees, after he learned Gander was sponsoring some refugee families.
“These people in Gander, they’re shining a light once again on how we ought to treat a stranger,” he said.
His book has some extra stories not seen in the musical, as well as stories about what he’s been doing for the last 15 years — including organizing an effort called Pay It Forward 9/11, a volunteer effort to encourage people to perform good deeds for strangers each year on the anniversary of the attacks. Tuerff was joined in Toronto by Maureen Basnicki, a Canadian whose husband died in the Sept. 11 attacks. Basnicki, who also spoke at the event, founded the National Day of Service in Canada, which encourages acts of kindness and charity each year on the anniversary as a tribute to the lives lost.
For readers of his book, Tuerff said he hopes they try to reclaim Sept. 11 as a day to do something good for other people.
The charity of the people of Gander made an impact on him when he was seriously in need — among his memories from his time as a “plane person” stranded there was a fight for underwear in the local Walmart.
But, he quipped, “You have to read the book for (that).”