David Teeples, Nobel Prize Winner 
and Philanthropy Icon, Dead at 87

New York Times
 

By Jason Miller

Published, June 17, 2078

David Teeples, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, best known for his generous heart and philanthropy, is dead at the age of 87. He died on Monday just minutes before his 88th birthday.  The cause was the blink of a strobe light he had ordered for his “bring it on 88 bash,” which caused him to go into cardiac arrest. 

In 2031, after making his first million in the marketing industry, Mr. Teeples began his nonprofit organization The Give the World a Drink Foundation (GWD) for which he is most known.  His mission was to bring clean drinking water to every person on the planet.  By the time of his death, more than 20,000 villages and communities were equipped with drinking wells. 

David Teeples was born in 1991 in Cloquet, Minn., to Jeff and Kristin (Looysen) Teeples.  He spent most of his childhood in Whitefish, Mont., and attended school there up to tenth grade.  It was here where he developed his love and passion for the outdoors and discovered his desire for volunteerism and servitude.  Mr. Teeples’ family then moved to Hawley Minn., where he attended Bemidji State University.  In 2014, he graduated with honors, receiving bachelor’s degrees in mass communications and creative and professional writing. 

Mr. Teeples married his high school sweetheart, Britta Berg, and they began their lives together in Colorado Springs, Colo.  He worked for Horizons Communications for 15 years as a manager and sales representative.  It was during this time that he dreamed up the idea for the nonprofit organization he would come to be remembered for.

His nonprofit work soon overtook his marketing job and he began working full time as the head of the GWD in 2037.  He focused on providing clean accessible water to people without worldwide, but focused primarily on African and South American communities.  “David had such a passion for people,” his wife of 63 years, Britta said, “He was always concerned for people and was interested in their stories.” 

As the founder for GWD he became the worldwide face for water shortages and headed the global effort to fix this problem through both education and fundraisers.  For his efforts he was admired by millions and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2058.  “My father was a real hero,” said his older son Jeffery, “He taught me and my siblings to love all people no matter what walk of life they are in.” 

In 2060 he turned over the executive position of GWD to his older son who still holds that position today.  Mr. Teeples did however remain an intricate part of the organization heading trips to dig wells and working on publicity work for GWD. 

 

Mr. Teeples is survived by his wife, Britta; his daughter, Clarice Smith and her husband Michael Smith of Denver, Colo., his two sons, Jeffery of New York, N.Y., and Dillon of Missoula, Mont.; two brothers, Eric of Whitefish, Mont., and Philip of Seattle, Wash.; and twelve grandchildren.